Introduction

There will be three creative projects during the semester. For each project students will work in two-person teams. The teams will probably be different for each project.

Each student should create a Portfolio page for each of their three projects. So, for a given project, there should be two separate pages, one on each team member's Porfolio. There are two ways to handle this:

• Each team member creates and maintains their own personal project page. Both pages contain more or less the same content.

• One team member creates a project page with content on his or her Portfolio. The other team member links his or her page to it.

Here is a nice example . Here's another nice example.

Project Page Details

Your project page should have three sections and should be arranged, more or less, in this order so as to make it easy for visitors to your Site to download the app when it's done.

• Introduction Provides a brief "marketing" summary of your project. This is where you can put your elevator pitch. Here is a suggested template for your elevator pitch. Fill in the blanks with your project details:

  • [name of app] is a
    [kind of thing it is]
    for [the people who would use it]
    that, unlike [the major alternatives],
    [the major distinguishing feature of your app]
    

  • This section should include information about the developers -- e.g., names, links to Portfolio, and (optionally) pictures.

  • When the project is finished, there should also be a screenshot of your app right at the top of the page.

  • A brief description of your app and what it does: What problem it solves and/or why it is important or useful, how it relates to (improves upon) similar apps, and, generally, why anyone should be interested in trying your app.

• Final App Distribution/Download This section should contain links to the app's source code (Zip file) and APK file. This is where you make your app available to others. It should contain:

  • A link to a zip file of the app's source code. We will share our source code.

  • A link to app's APK (package) file. Android users can download this and run it on their phones.

  • A barcode for downloading the latest version of APK file. Android users can use their phone's Barcode Scanner App to download the app directly to a phone. app.

  For instructions on how to download files and create these links, follow these directions.

• Design and Documentation This section should contain a complete description of your project and your development process. Rather than waiting until the end of the project, this section should be updated regularly as your project progresses. It should include:

  • One or more screencasts showing how your app's user interface will look.

  • A storyboard that outlines what your app will do. For example your story board might go something like this:

    The user clicks the New Game button.

    The app initializes the following variables: v1, v2, ..

    The user clicks the Play button.

    The app starts randomly moving the mole..

    The timer runs down to zero.

    The game ends and the user's score is displayed in a label.

  • A description of the main components in your app -- i.e., App Inventor components, variables, etc.

  • An explanation with Screen shots of the main blocks that show your program's logic and, of possible, a screen shot of all blocks (similar to what you find in the tutorials we've studied).

  • User reports -- if time permits, have someone not on your team use your app and give a brief summary of their feedback.