IMPORTANT NOTE: This schedule will be fluid and under construction throughout the quarter.
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DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M1
Syllabus

Introductions:
People
Structure of the Course
Mobile Computing
Senior Seminar
Complete the background survey on Teams before class on Wednesday.
W1
Background survey (survey link) should be completed on Teams before class begins.
Read the following articles on Native vs. Cross-Platform mobile app development. (There is some overlap in the articles. Read the first one and then skim the others for additional information.)
Native vs Hybrid vs Cross Platform - What to Choose in 2026?
Native vs cross-platform app development
Cross-platform and native app development: How do you choose?
Native vs Cross-Platform App: How to Choose (YouTube video)

Read the following articles on cross-platform developmnent frameworks:
Flutter vs React Native vs Kotlin Multiplatform (and More) in 2025 - What Should You Choose?
Flutter vs React Native vs Kotlin Multiplatform in 2026: A Deep Technical Comparison
Flutter vs React Native in 2026: which one to choose (and when neither)
Group discussion of Native vs Hybrid vs Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
Begin group discussion of cross-platform development frameworks
Begin to work on installations on your machine(s).
F1
Continue with installations
Discussion of installation experiences
Project requirements and brainstorming
Topic brainstorming
Work on your Personal Reflection for this week. See the link to the reflection template document in the General Channel in our Teams site (or here).
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M2
Weekly 489/490 Personal Reflection is due on Kit by Sunday night. See the link to the reflection template document in the General Channel in our Teams site (or here).
Complete the Project Preference Form (link forthcoming)(See document with descriptions in Teams)
Complete the Presentation Topic Preference Form (See descriptions in document on Teams, also sent by email.)
Continue project brainstorm/discussions
Work on the Dart Tutorial If you have not yet completed your Flutter/Dart installation, you can use DartPad to explore coding in Dart
W2
Keep reading through the Flutter documentation
Continue to work through the Dart and Flutter tutorials, working to build the Birdle app as in the Flutter tutorial.
F2
Agile Development
Read the following articles on Agile Development:
Agile 101
The Brief History of Agile Software Development 2026
Principles behind the Agile Manifesto
Is the Agile Manifesto still a thing?

What is Agile Development (Part 1) (video)

What is Agile Development (Part 2): An Agile Project Case Study (video)

The end of agile as we know it (A very recent, but longer read on the challenges companies experience and why existing agile practices fall short. Skim or read as you have time.)
Agile Development Discussion and group activity
Agile and team contract (md template)
Meet with project teams during class time
Work with project team to set up regular meeting times and to more clearly define your project description. Complete the agile worksheet and submit on Kit.
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M3
Explore tools available for agile software development. You could do some searching online to see what tools are available and how to use them. You could also refer to the page on Software Development Tools from COMP305. You may also want to explore Trello as a simpler tool than Jira.
Discussion of Software Development tools
Project group discussions on setting up tools for project development
Continue to work on getting Birdle app to work in Flutter.
W3
Mobile UI/UX Design and Usability
Reading: What is UI/UX Design?
Presentation
Submit a presentation feedback form on Kit
Work in project groups and/or continue working on Birdle game
Work in project groups and/or continue working on Birdle game
SCHEDULE NOT UP TO DATE AFTER THIS POINT!
F3
Work day. Groups should continue working on getting a project going in Ionic and practice pushing and pulling from their repositories.
Begin working with components for your user interface. Try to add a button that pops up a message when clicked. You might wish to start reading through some of the documentation: Structure
Work on personal reflection, due before class on Monday. Some things to reflect upon this week:
What have you learned (that was new to you) about Agile software development?
How do you see your group applying some of the ideas of agile development to your project?
How have you contributed to class discussions and your group work this week?
To get started with Angular, you may find it helpful to walk through the example app here: Getting started with Angular
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M4
Follow-up Reading — Agile
Brief introductions to, and comparison of, Kanban and Scrum
Suggested Readings — App Development Process
Mobile App Development Process - How Does an Idea Become an App?
What are the Various Phases of Mobile App Development?
Suggested Readings on UX/UI
Use Cases Tool
User Experience (UX) Design
Apple's Human Interface Guidelines
Google's Material Design Guidelines
Designing for Mobile Apps: Overall Principles, Common Patterns, and Interface Guidelines
Presentation and discussion on User Experience
Project group discussion on applying user experience ideas to your project
Start working on the Development Assignment
W4
Suggested Readings:
A Comprehensive Guide to Mobile App Design
How to Design a Mobile App User Interface Like a Pro
Presentation on User Interface Design
In project groups, work on the first exercise from the article 5 Practical Exercises to Learn UI Design (For Free) or work on your group's UI design
F4
Project work day
Complete a Team Evaluation and submit on Kit before end of day Monday October 10.
Work on your weekly personal reflection. Additional reflection prompts for this week: Reflect on how the design process is going for your project. Reflect on your participation in your group meetings and activities. Are you able to participate and contribute to the full extent that you would like? Are there ways to change how your group is working to improve your learning? Feel free to include any other thoughts on how your groupwork is impacting your learning.
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M5
Submit your Team Evaluation before class
Submit your personal reflection on Kit before before class
Submit your project agile development plan and UI design on Kit
Presentation on Databases
Project group work time
Suggested exercises:
Intro to SQL
Check out additional database reading posted on W5
W5
Suggested videos and readings:
What is Database & SQL?
What is Database? What is SQL?
Quick Introduction to Databases
A longer (but thorough) introduction to databases: Introduction to Databases. One of the comments on the videos gives a breakdown of the topics in this video. You may choose to watch one or more segments of this video.
SQL vs NoSQL or MySQL vs MongoDB
Database discussion in project groups. Submit a document on Kit that shows what your database may look like.
F5
Mid-Quarter Break: NO CLASS
Work on project update presentations (Details of what to include may be found in the document titled "Project Update Presentation Guidelines.docx" in the Files folder of the General channel of the CS489/490 Team site.)
Weekly Personal Reflection due before class on Monday
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M6
Submit your personal reflection on Kit before the start of class.
SQLite Tutorial
Peer review of design and database documents
Work through the Ionic 6 SQLite Database CRUD App Example Tutorial
W6
Presentation on User login and authentication
F6
Project group update presentations
Complete your
Personal Weekly Reflection
and submit on Kit before class time on Monday. For this week's reflection you may use your feedback on the project updates.
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M7
Submit your project update feedback by class time.
Presentation on Mobile Device Security
W7
Presentation on Mobile Data and Ethics
F7
Suggested Readings:
The ACM Code of Ethics
Look at the case studies in The Code.
Look over the case studies in ACM Ethics: Case Studies.
ACM Ethics: The Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
Discussion on Professional Ethics
Weekly 489/490 Personal Reflection is due by class time on Monday.
Please include a reflection on the ACM Code of Ethics.
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M8
Submit your personal reflection before class.
Presentation on Development and Deployment of Apps
Read through at least one of the following:
Apple Store Review Guidelines
Deliver High Quality Android Apps
The BrandK manual (available in the File folder in the General channel of our class Team site, titled KZ_BRANDK_INDENTITY_BOOK_16.pdf)
W8
Project work day
F8
Project Update Presentations
Weekly 489/490 Personal Reflection is due by class time on Monday. For your reflection this week, please complete a Team Evaluation.
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M9
Team Evaluations due by beginning of class.
Read through some of the following articles, or find your own, on best/worst apps of 2022.
Top Apps of 2022 By Installs, Spend, and Active Users: Report (Forbes)
The Best Android Apps for 2022 (PCMag)
Best iPhone Apps for 2022 (PCMag)
Most Popular Apps (2022) (Business of Apps)
The Most Dangerous Apps of 2022 (EducateEmpowerKids)
The 5 Worst Apps for Privacy (NordVPN)
Here Are Some of the Worst Apps for User Privacy (Digital Information World)
Discussion of best/worst apps of 2022
W9 Project Work Day
Post an article (from within the past year or two) related to current events and mobile computing on the document titled "Current Events" in the Files tab of the General channel of our Team site. Do not duplicate what others have posted.
F9
Project Work Day
Read one or more current event articles from the links that classmates posted on the "Current Events" document on Teams. Be prepared to discuss on Monday.
For this week's reflection, write about what you have learned about the implementation of an app. Write this as if you were explaining how to make an app in Ionic with Angular to a jr/sr CS major. Include information on what files make up an app program, and what purpose those files have. (Some other ideas might include: Where does the UI information go? Where do you put functions? How do pages connect to each other? Where/how would you connect to a database?) This is your chance to explain and describe some of the technical skills you have learned this quarter. This reflection is due any time during week 10.
DAY PREPARATION CLASS-TIME TOPICS/ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-UP
M10
Current issues in mobile computing discussion
W10
Course Evaluations
Project Work Day
F10
Project Presentations/Demos
Post your presentations in the Presentation channel
Final 489/490 Personal Reflection (described here) is is due by Tuesday night.
Complete final Team Evaluation form (). Be sure to address the last question which is for 10th week only.
Exam Week No exam during Exam Week. Projects due Monday. What to Submit
Final reflections and team evaluations due Tuesday.