This document outlines a proposed mobile application curriculum that emphasizes authentic and personalized learning experiences. It discusses planning mobile app projects, popular development platforms like App Inventor and Android SDK, and instructional strategies like project-based learning. Examples are provided of student groups who took graphic design and conceptual approaches to create mobile apps. The document suggests strategies for implementing a mobile app curriculum and outlines student benefits like creating real projects and gaining career skills in design, coding, and debugging applications.

1. Developing a Mobile Application Curriculum
Which Empowers Authentic & Personalized
Learning Experiences
Daniel Downs
Andover Public Schools
Adjunct BHCC/NECC
@danieldowns
danieldownsphotography@gmail.com
www.projectbasedlearningonline.com

2. Why Mobile App Curriculum?
Planning (Context, Content &
User Interface Design Of
Application)
► Graphic Design/Layout Skills
(icons, buttons)
► Coding/Programming
Language Skills (HTML, CSS,
Action Script 3.0 , Java)
► Real World Application To
Devices & Markets (Google
Play, App Store )
►
On the right a student shows his
children's game on a Motorola
Zoom tablet.

3. Current Popular Platforms
►
App Inventor(Android)
http://beta.appinventor.mit.edu
►
Android SDK/Eclipse IDE (Open
Source, Java,Android)
►
PhoneGap (HTML/CSS Based,
Integrates With
Dreamweaver,Android,IOS)
►
MDS App Laud Eclipse
Plugin extends the Android
Development Tools and
PhoneGap framework to
provide a comprehensive IDE
for Android development
http://www.mobiledevelopersolutions.com/home/start
►
Flash (Adobe Software, Action
script 3.0,Android,IOS)
►
Xcode (Mac)

4. Curriculum/Instructional
Strategies
Authentic Learning Experiences
Professionals In The Classroom
High Level Project Conceptualization
►
Project/Problem Based
Long Range Projects/Phased Instruction
Variety of Approaches To Addressing Needs of Project
►
Collaborative
Group Work/ Skill Fluency Building/Project Ownership
Team Building & Leadership Skills
►
Problem Solving
21st Century Connections
Cross Curricular Connections
►
Project Example:
On the right is a Photoshop Planning Graphic.
This is used to help students plan layout, color schemes,
user click streams and button design.

5. A Review Of 2 Group Authentic Learning
Approaches With Mobile Applications
Designing, Implementing
Technology & Testing A
Mobile Application Project
Group 1:The Graphic Design Approach
*Highly Visual Based
*Priority On Interactivity
*Addressed Authentic Question As A Team
Group 1 Presentation
Group 1 App Video
►
Group 2:The High Conceptualization
Approach:
*High Project Conceptualization
*Variety Of Approaches(Skill Areas)
*Addressed Real World Needs With
Technology
Group 2 Presentation
Group 2 App Video
►

6. 3 Strategies For Aligning App
Curriculum In Your Setting
►
Choose A Platform
(Android/IOS, Windows)
Based On Resources &
Current Curriculum Alignment
-Web Development or Programming Base?
-PC or Mac?
-Web or Native Apps(App in browser
or added to a device and downloaded)
►
Align Tools With Classroom
Level Goals
- Elementary, High School
- Testing Tools( Devices, Platforms,
Skill/Learning Level)
►
Develop A Unit With Open
Source Tools
- Pair with a web development or business based
unit.

7. Direct Student Benefits &
Outcomes
►
►
►
►
►
►
Create Hypermedia
Experiences
Curriculum of Design,
Implement and
Debug( Project Based)
Game Design/Layout Skills
Real World Application Of
Projects
Curriculum easily modified
for learners of all levels
Students motivated
through ownership of their
projects.

8. Suggestions For Implementation
Choose a platform based on
your students skill level and
your resources.
► Develop curriculum around a
process of learning skills and
apply them to authentic
projects
► Develop student projects
ideas which include planning,
integrating and testing with
technology with real world
consequences.
► Become aware of the variety
of specific technologies and
API ’s (Application
Programming Interface) which
enable exciting app creation
with different tools.
►
1.Design
2.Implementation
4.Adding To A Device
3.Debugging & Test

9. Recent Curriculum
Developments
Jquery Web App Layouts
Sample Introductory Lesson
► Additional Teaching Resources For Java For Android
Android SDK Tools
Android I Lesson 1
► Dreamweaver App Functionality
Adobe Press From Pearson CS5.5 (Updates For Jquery
native app development in CS6)
In Dreamweaver “Site>Mobile Applications>Configure Mobile
Applications Framework”
►

10. Closing Considerations In PBL
Environments
Consider Authentic Rubrics
Page 118 (Show charts,learning words and graphics)
PBL Research Daniel Downs
►
►
Allow students to reflect on the process of creating the
application and the context in which it will be used.
►
Allow students to dream big, conceptualize and research
solutions. Technology is moving as quickly as projects are
developed!!