Android App Development

Module 1: Introduction to App Development (1-2 weeks)

• Lesson 1: What is App Development?

  • Introduction to the world of mobile apps and Android.
  • Overview of the Android operating system and its features.
  • Explanation of the role of developers in creating apps.
  • Hands-on activity: Explore existing apps and think about their features and design.

• Lesson 2: Introduction to Android Studio

  • What is Android Studio? The main tool for building Android apps.
  • Setting up Android Studio on your computer (simple, kid-friendly instructions).
  • Understanding the user interface of Android Studio.
  • Hands-on activity: Install Android Studio and create your first project.

• Lesson 3: Basic Concepts in Android App Development

  • Introduction to app components: Activities, views, layouts, and buttons.
  • Explanation of Java/Kotlin as the programming language used for Android.
  • Hands-on activity: Explore the layout editor and create a simple layout (e.g., a button and a text box).

Module 2: Building a Simple Android App (2-3 weeks)

• Lesson 1: Working with Layouts and Views

  • Understanding views: Buttons, TextViews, and ImageViews.
  • Introduction to layouts: LinearLayout, RelativeLayout, and ConstraintLayout.
  • Hands-on activity: Design a basic user interface with buttons and text.

• Lesson 2: Making Your First Android App: "Hello World!"

  • Putting together the layout and coding for a simple app that displays "Hello World".
  • Explaining how an Android app runs: Activities and the lifecycle of an app.
  • Hands-on activity: Build and run your first "Hello World" app on the Android emulator or physical device.

Module 3: Adding More Functionality to Your App (2-3 weeks)

• Lesson 1: Working with Inputs: EditText and Buttons

  • Introduction to user inputs: EditText for text input.
  • Handling button clicks to retrieve data entered by the user.
  • Hands-on activity: Create an app that takes a user's name as input and displays a personalized greeting.

• Lesson 2: Using Images and Media in Your App

  • How to add images and media (audio/video) to an app.
  • Using ImageViews to display images on the screen.
  • Hands-on activity: Add a fun image to your app and create a simple interactive gallery.

• Lesson 3: Using Intents and Navigation

  • Introduction to Intents: How one activity can start another activity.
  • Creating multiple screens (activities) and navigating between them.
  • Hands-on activity: Build a simple app with multiple screens (e.g., a welcome screen and a settings screen).

Module 4: Interactive Apps and User Feedback (2-3 weeks)

• Lesson 1: Making Apps Interactive with Buttons and Events

  • How to use buttons, touch events, and more complex input types (e.g., checkboxes, switches).
  • Adding logic to handle user interaction.
  • Hands-on activity: Create a quiz app with buttons and user feedback.

• Lesson 2: Storing Data Locally in Your App

  • Introduction to storing data: SharedPreferences for small pieces of data.
  • Saving and loading data in your app (e.g., storing the user's name or settings).
  • Hands-on activity: Build an app that remembers the user's name between sessions.

• Lesson 3: Working with Lists: ListView and RecyclerView

  • Introduction to displaying lists of items (e.g., contacts, tasks, etc.).
  • Understanding adapters and how to bind data to list views.
  • Hands-on activity: Create a simple to-do list app with a list of tasks that can be added and removed.

Module 5: Polishing Your App (2-3 weeks)

• Lesson 1: Designing for Different Screen Sizes

  • Introduction to responsive design: Adapting your app for phones, tablets, and different screen sizes.
  • Using different layout configurations for various device sizes.
  • Hands-on activity: Make your app responsive and test it on different device emulators.

• Lesson 2: Styling Your App: Themes and Colors

  • How to style your app using XML: Choosing colors, fonts, and styles.
  • Introduction to material design principles for a modern look and feel.
  • Hands-on activity: Customize the design of your app with colors, fonts, and themes.

• Lesson 3: Debugging and Testing Your App

  • How to test and debug your app: Using Android Studio's tools to check for errors.
  • Writing simple test cases to ensure everything works as expected.
  • Hands-on activity: Debug any issues and make sure your app runs smoothly.