This comprehensive course outline covers everything from the basics of Android development to advanced features and app deployment, ensuring that students are well-prepared for real-world app development scenarios in the Android ecosystem.
Module 1: Introduction to Android Development
– Objective: To provide a foundational understanding of Android development, basic tools, and essential programming concepts.
– History of Android
– Android ecosystem (OS versions, devices, etc.)
– Android architecture overview (Linux Kernel, Libraries, Application framework, etc.)
– Introduction to Android Studio and setting up the development environment
– Activities, Services, Broadcast Receivers, Content Providers
– Life Cycle of an Activity and Fragment
– Manifest file and application structure
– Java vs Kotlin (Why Kotlin is preferred for Android development)
– Syntax and core features of Kotlin for Android development
– Basic object-oriented programming concepts in Kotlin
– Creating your first app (Hello World!)
– Introduction to UI components (TextView, Button, EditText)
– Event handling and listeners (OnClickListener)
– Layouts: LinearLayout, RelativeLayout, ConstraintLayout, FrameLayout
– Views and ViewGroups
– Handling UI components: Buttons, EditText, ImageView, ListView, RecyclerView
– Styles and themes in Android
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Module 2: Intermediate Android Development
– Objective: To delve deeper into Android development, handling user interactions, data, and integration with external resources.
– Understanding Activity lifecycle
– Passing data between activities using Intents
– Activity stack and back navigation
– Understanding Fragment lifecycle
– Using fragments to create dynamic UIs
– Fragment transactions (adding, removing, replacing fragments)
– Understanding different View types (TextView, ImageView, Button, etc.)
– Custom Views and Custom ViewGroups
– Handling different screen sizes and resolutions (Responsive UIs, Layout Resource qualifiers)
– Shared Preferences for small data storage
– SQLite Database for structured data storage
– Room Database (Modern Database solution for Android)
– Content Providers for sharing data between applications
– Making HTTP requests using Retrofit, Volley
– JSON parsing with Gson or Moshi
– Integrating third-party APIs (e.g., Google Maps, weather services)
– Asynchronous tasks (AsyncTask, Handler, Looper)
– Services and background work (foreground vs background services)
– JobScheduler, WorkManager for managing background jobs
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Module 3: Advanced Android Development
– Objective: To explore advanced Android concepts such as performance optimization, advanced UI/UX, and using modern tools and libraries.
– Material Design principles and implementation (CardView, Snackbar, FloatingActionButton)
– Custom Views and animations (Property Animation, ObjectAnimator, ViewPropertyAnimator)
– ConstraintLayout and MotionLayout for complex UIs
– Introduction to Dependency Injection (Dagger, Hilt)
– Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architecture pattern
– Introduction to architecture components (LiveData, ViewModel, Lifecycle)
– Introduction to Coroutines
– Launching and managing coroutines
– Asynchronous programming with Kotlin (async, await, suspend functions)
– Understanding Jetpack libraries (Navigation, Paging, WorkManager, etc.)
– Using the Navigation component for app navigation
– LiveData and ViewModel for managing UI-related data
– Room for database access
– Unit testing with JUnit and Kotlin Test
– UI testing with Espresso
– Mocking dependencies with Mockito
– Working with Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
– Setting up and sending push notifications
– Managing notification channels in Android 8.0 (Oreo) and above
– Memory management and reducing memory leaks
– Profiling and debugging tools (Android Profiler, LeakCanary)
– Efficient handling of threads and background tasks
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Module 4: Android Advanced Features and App Deployment
– Objective: To gain expertise in advanced Android features such as security, performance, and deployment to the Google Play Store.
– Best practices for securing Android apps
– Data encryption and secure storage (Keystore, EncryptedSharedPreferences)
– Implementing secure authentication (OAuth, Firebase Authentication)
– Handling user privacy and app permissions
– Using GPS for location tracking
– Google Maps API integration
– Geofencing and location-based notifications
– Working with device camera, microphone, and gallery
– Integrating video and audio playback (MediaPlayer, ExoPlayer)
– Using Android Sensors (Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity Sensor)
– Using Firebase Authentication, Firestore, and Firebase Realtime Database
– Integrating Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications
– Firebase Analytics for app tracking and reporting
– Preparing the app for release (signing APK, obfuscation)
– Publishing to the Google Play Store
– App versioning and release management
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Module 5: Final Project and Capstone
– Objective: To apply learned concepts to create a fully functional, polished Android application, preparing students for real-world Android development.
– Identifying app features and designing user flow
– Implementing best practices for code structure and modularity
– UI/UX design considerations for mobile apps
– Building key app features (networking, local storage, UI/UX)
– Using Android Jetpack components for robust development
– Implementing background processing, notifications, and analytics
– Comprehensive unit and UI testing
– Debugging common issues in Android apps (UI rendering, performance bottlenecks)
– Publishing the app to the Google Play Store (or internal distribution)
– Final project demonstration and presentation to peers and faculty
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Assessment and Evaluation
– Assignments and Quizzes: Regular assignments and quizzes to assess theoretical understanding and practical implementation.
– Midterm Exam: Focus on basic to intermediate Android development concepts, UI design, and networking.
– Final Exam: A comprehensive exam covering all course content, with practical assessments.
– Capstone Project: Evaluation of the final project based on functionality, design, and code quality.
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Course Duration
– Total Duration: 16-20 weeks (based on class schedule)
– Class Frequency: 2-3 sessions per week (depending on institution’s schedule)
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Recommended Books and Resources
– Books:
– Online Resources:
The Android Development course was incredibly thorough! It took me from the basics of Java to creating full-fledged applications. The emphasis on hands-on coding and real-world examples was invaluable. I'm excited to continue my journey in mobile app development!
The Android Development course was incredibly thorough! It took me from the basics of Java to creating full-fledged applications. The emphasis on hands-on coding and real-world examples was invaluable. I'm excited to continue my journey in mobile app development!
