MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
Mobile Application Development allows members to design and develop a functional mobile app based on a given topic. Members present their app to a panel of judges, demonstrating creativity, user interface design, and technical problem-solving in a mobile platform environment.
Event Overview
Division: High School
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Presentation
Event Elements: Presentation with a Topic
Presentation Time: 3-minute set-up, 7-minute presentation time, 3-minute question & answer time
Career Cluster Framework Connection: Digital Technology
NACE Competency Alignment: Career & Self-Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Professionalism, Technology
Items Competitor Must Provide: Sharpened pencil, Photo Identification, Conference-provided nametag, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code, Technology and presentation items for the preliminary round, Technology and presentation items, including any adapter or cord needed beyond an HDMI connection for the final round
Items Provided by FBLA: Internet access and table for preliminary round presentation; Internet access, table, power, projector & screen for final round presentation
2025-2026 Topic
Design the Future of Member Engagement
Design and develop a mobile application that could serve as the official FBLA member app, helping students stay connected, informed, and engaged with FBLA, its events, and its broader community.
INCLUDE:
· Member profiles
· Calendar for events and competition reminders
· Access to key FBLA resources and documents
· News feed with announcements and updates
· Integration with chapter social media channels
Note: This competition is for educational purposes only. While students are encouraged to design the app as if it were for real-world use, FBLA will not adopt or implement the winning app as its official member platform.
This topic was created in partnership with code.org. Learn more about code.org, resources available, and expanding computer science in your school or district at this link.
District
Check with your District leadership for District-specific competition information.
State
Eligibility
· FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 1 (or earlier date specified by District Director) of the current program year.
· Members may compete in an event at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) more than once if they have not previously placed in the top 10 of that event at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top 10 of an event at the NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
· Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.
· Members must stay in an official FBLA hotel to be eligible to compete.
· Each district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system found on the Florida FBLA website.
· Each member can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter event (Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual Business Report).
· Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
· Identification: Competitors must present valid photo identification (physical) that matches the name on their conference name badge. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or school ID.
· All members of a team must consist of individuals from the same chapter.
· Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare, and set up their presentations.
· Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
· All members of a team must consist of individuals from the same chapter.
· If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule. The decision is solely up to the judges.
· Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted to participate in the competitive event.
Recognition
· The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 5.
Event Administration
· This event has two phases: preliminary presentation and final presentation
· Preliminary Presentation Information
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Important: Time allocations are exclusive. The presentation must begin immediately after the 3-minute set-up time concludes. Time may not be shifted between segments. Competitors will not interact with judges during the set-up period.
o The presentation is judged at the SLC. Preliminary presentations are not open to conference attendees.
o Competitors/teams are randomly assigned to sections.
o Technology
· Internet Access: Provided (Please be aware that internet access at conference venues may be unreliable. Always prepare a backup plan in case the connection is lost or does not work with your device.)
· Presentations must be delivered using no more than three personal devices (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, or monitor approximately laptop-sized).
· Projectors and projector screens are not permitted, and competitors may not bring their own.
· Wireless slide advancers (e.g., presentation clickers or mice) are allowed.
· External speakers are not allowed; audio must come directly from the presenting device(s).
· Electricity will not be available.
o Visual aids, samples, notes, and other physical materials related to the project may be used.
o Items may be placed on the provided table or on the judges table, if space allows.
o No items may be left with the judges following the presentation.
o If performing as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the presentation.
o Restricted Items: Animals (except authorized service animals), Food (for display only; may not be consumed by judges during the presentation), Links and QR codes (for display only; cannot be clicked or scanned by judges at any time)
o Presentation should cover the following aspects of the application:
· The platform used to develop the application. The following platforms may be used to develop the project: Google’s Android, Apple iOS, or Microsoft Windows Phone.
· The solution must run standalone with no programming errors.
· Applications may deploy from a smartphone, tablet, or both, but must be smartphone deployable.
· Applications do not need to be available for download from a digital-distribution multimedia-content service.
· The usability and functionality of the program must be demonstrated to the judges.
· Competitors must show the judges any of the following that are applicable: read me file, source code, documentation of templates/libraries used, documentation of copyright and sources of materials used.
· The presentation should follow the rating sheet and include the following:
o Design and Code Quality: Explain the design and implementation of the application.
o User Experience: Map the user journey and explain your UX design rationale. What focus is on the ease-of-use and accessibility of the interface?
o Application Functionality: Social media integrations
· Final Presentation Information
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Note: Each time segment is exclusive. Once the 3-minute set-up period ends, the 7-minute presentation time begins automatically. Competitors may not shift time between segments. Competitors will not interact with judges during the set-up period.
o Internet Access: Provided (Internet access may not be Wi-Fi, so competitors should plan appropriately when selecting devices on which to present. Please note that internet reliability at any conference venue cannot be guaranteed. Always have a backup plan in case internet connections go down.)
o An equal number of competitors/teams from each section in the preliminary round will advance to the final round. If there are fewer than 15 competitors, the final round may be eliminated.
o Final presentations may be open to conference attendees, space permitting. Finalists may not view other competitors’ presentation in their event.
o All other preliminary round guidelines apply.
Scoring
· The preliminary presentation score will determine the finalists.
· The final presentation score will determine the winners.
· Judges must break ties. All judges’ decisions are final. Results announced at the State Leadership Conference are considered official and will not be changed after the conclusion of the State Leadership Conference.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
· FBLA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing reasonable accommodations for competitors. Accommodation requests must be submitted through the conference registration system by the official registration deadline. All requests will be reviewed, and additional documentation may be required to determine eligibility and appropriate support.
Recording of Presentations
· No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive event.
· Competitors in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any presentation for use in study or training materials.
Penalty Points
· Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.
National
If you are competing on the National level, be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/fbla/fbla-competitive-events/