In the Portfolio, you will create a reflective summary of the class notes and answers to practical coding exercises for
every project topic from every week within our unit. You are required to present a written report on each week’s topic,
analyzing and discussing how the topic relates to developing your mobile system application. You will also include a
screenshot of the output of each week’s hands on exercise, along with the significant learning notes. Appropriate
formatting required. Note, this is due before the Project, because you must have covered all concepts to be able to
complete the Project. Thus, this earlier due date somewhat forces you to make sure you cover all theory + practical
labs before you can finish the Project.
Purpose and Tasks
The Portfolio is where you actually learn. It is the foundation of this entire unit. The science behind this is
as follows. Creating a personal summary is to request your brain’s neurons to essentially fire connectivity
and activate over new information. When listening alone, passive information comes in and will reinforce
or relate to existing information in your brain, but won’t form new memories on its own. Basically, your
brain says “oh yes, this information relates to what I already know about ABC, so XYZ is important”, and the
new information is never “saved” into your memory. Passive listening only reinforces existing knowledge.
By pressuring your mind to “create” something (e.g. written summaries), this process pressures your mind
to create and use new pathways in your brain related to the new information, thus encouraging them to be
permanent. This is the simplest way to get the information into our brains and have it stay there. So, this
exercise is for you. For many topics, you’ll find you’ll remember the topic for the entire trimester
without having to revisit your notes.