Teaching using Android

[Jim Ronholm]

What would be the prerequisites for teaching Android - i.e. what do the students need to know before starting Android development itself.

How suitable is the Android platform to first year (college) students, vice later years?

Thanks,
Jim

[Ulf Dittmer]

I would think that first year students have enough to learn grappling with the Java language, without having to deal with the additional complexities of the Android SDK and emulator. Plus, Android is pretty specialized - would that be appropriate for college courses? I could see it being part of an advanced course (maybe 4th year) that contrasts different UI styles - Android vs. Swing vs. web apps.

[Lucas Jordan]

I agree with this. If they know Java well enough, then a class on Android can focus on the Android parts of Android, and not Java. I could see using Android as part of a 200+ level Java course, since showing off your homework on your phone is pretty cool.

-Lucas Jordan

Ulf Dittmer wrote:I would think that first year students have enough to learn grappling with the Java language, without having to deal with the additional complexities of the Android SDK and emulator. Plus, Android is pretty specialized - would that be appropriate for college courses? I could see it being part of an advanced course (maybe 4th year) that contrasts different UI styles - Android vs. Swing vs. web apps.