CPSC 110-08: Computing with Mobile Phones
Reading: App Inventor, Create Your Own Apps, Chapter 3
Due: Wednesday 9/20 (before class)
Textbook
You can purchase a copy of the text book
Wolber,
Abelson, Spertus, and Looney, App Inventor: Create Your Own Android
Apps. It costs around $25. We will be having reading assignments
from this text throughout the semester.
There is a
pre-publication version
of this book available for free download. However, it is not as complete
as the published version.
Reading Assignment
Principles addressed:
Creativity: The students are build an app.
Abstraction: The idea of an argument is introduced.
Read Chapter 3, Mole
Mash Tutorial. There is
an
online step-by-step tutorial that goes with this chapter if you prefer
to read that and implement the app. Your homework for Friday will be to
implement the MoleMash app.
This chapter describes how to create a simple
animation app. In addition the the App Inventor components it
introduces -- e.g., the ImageSprite, Clock -- it
introduces two important computing principles: randomness
and the use of procedures. Programmers use self-defined
procedures to organize a related set of operations into a nameable
unit that can be "called" whenever those operations need to be
performed. It is an important example of abstraction.
Reading Questions. Keep these questions in mind as you read
the assigned chapter. For each question, write a short answer. Post
your answers on a separate page, named "App Inventor Chapter 3" or
something similar, on your Portfolio.
- What is an procedure? Give a specific example
and describe what role it plays in the app.
- random fraction is an example of a built-in function
in App Inventor. What does it do?
- When you define a procedure, where put the call block for
that procedure?
In Class on Friday
For Friday's homework, you will be asked to implement MoleMash and create
a page for it on your Portfolio.