Annesa Hartman
Contact Info: hartmana@yosemite.cc.ca.us
Adobe Flash is the leading software for the creation of online-based, interactive media. In this course you learn the tools and concepts of this program and its many interactive possibilities, including drawing, image, text, animation, sound, and basic actionscripting integration. Also, you explore the steps in creating Flash productions from start-to-finish, including site map and navigation building, button making, output, optimization, and testing.
Visit the Adobe.com and learn more about Flash.
NOTE: The Flash software (version CS4) are required for this course - expect to spend about $250, or you can utilize the software at the Magic Lab on the MJC campus. See information below under Required Software and Required Texts
After completing this course you should be able to:
- List the current trends in web design
- Explain the difference between bitmap and vector graphics
- List the components of a web designer/developers toolkit
- Describe the qualities of a Flash created site and identify usability components
- Understand the differences of Flash's 3 graphic states - stage, overlay(group), and symbols.
- Move around the Flash interface
- Utilize the drawing and editing tools in Flash
- Create symbols and manipulate their instances
- Import optimized images into Flash
- Understand basic animation principles
- Effectively use the Flash timeline
- Create motion, path and shape tweens
- Create a simple frame-by-frame animation
- Create an animation in a movie clip
- Create a mask
- Describe the differences between graphic, button and movie clip behaviors
- Create a complex animated scene
- Describe the steps of web site planning and implementation
- Understand when to use scenes and load movie Flash structures
- Describe the difference between user-defined and timeline-defined actions
- Create rollover buttons with sound
- Apply simple actionscripting to execute navigational components in a Flash movie
- Apply simple actionscripting to control objects within a Flash movie
- List the steps to optimize a Flash movie
- Publish and post a Flash movie online
- Make cool stuff
Module 1: Getting Started
In this module you will learn how to kick-start your online experience, explore some of the current trends in web design and development, and examine some Flash sites.
Lesson 1: Online Learning Overview
Lesson 2: Current Web Trends
Lesson 3: About Flash
Assignment #1 due
Module 2: Flash Object Creation
In this module you will learn to navigate through the Flash interface, practice using the Flash drawing tools, and develop a fundamental understanding of how to build graphics in the program.
Lesson 1: the Flash Interface
Lesson 2: the 3 graphic states of Flash
Lesson 3: Stage Objects
Lesson 4: Grouped Objects
Lesson 5: Symbol Objects
Assignment #2 due
Module 3: Animation Basics
In this module you will learn how to make things move and develop a thorough understanding of how to use the Flash timeline, tweening, and frame-by-frame animation techniques.
Lesson 1: The Timeline
Lesson 2: Tweening
Lesson 3: Editing Animation
Lesson 4: Frame-by-Frame
Lesson 5: Movie Clip Timelines
Lesson 6: Masking
Assignment #3 due
Module 4: Creating a Flash Site
Learn about interactivity and basic actionscripting in Flash by creating a multiscene movie (a small web site) in Flash. Optimize and test the movie.
Lesson 1: The Site Creation Process
Lesson 2: Site architecture using Flash
Lesson 3: Intro to Action Scripting
Lesson 4: Constructing a Multi-Scene site
Lesson 5: Creating a Pre-Loader
Lesson 6: Publishing and Output
Assignment #4 due
Module 5: Calling Movie Clips and Creating a Multi-SWF site
This final module addresses some of the final stages of preparing a Flash movie, including tools and best practices for movie optimization and publishing protocol to get your movie out to the world.
Lesson 1: Calling Movie Clip Instances
Lesson 2: Multi-SWF site creation
Lesson 3: The getURL action
Assignment #5 due
Final Specs due
Final Project
Final Project due
Online courses mirror traditional courses; the major difference is that the interaction that occurs within an online course is asynchronous. This means you can access and do your work at any time of the day. There are, however, assignment deadlines that you will need to adhere to.
Also, each week an asynchronous discussion topic will be announced. You are required to post on the discussion thread at least 2 times each week (20-post minimum for the term). Please post your first discussion item by mid-week, so others have time to respond.
I recommend that you logon regularly (4 to 5 times a week) to attend your course. Typically, students are expected to spend 8-15 hours each week on course work. Participation in the course is part of your grade (see grading information below).
This course is accessed through the Blackboard online learning environment. When you register for the course the Blackboard log-in information will be made available to you.
The Online Help Desk will answer questions regarding Blackboard related hardware and software problems as well as provide email and phone support for students having login problems. Login problems can usually be solved within 24 hours of receipt of e-mail notification. Contact the WebCT Online Help Desk by visiting http://www.mjc.edu/distance_ed/passthrough.html or calling 209-575-6412 or email onlinehelpdesk@yosemite.cc.ca.us (recommended)
For you assistance there is available a computer lab you can use for this course. It is sometimes less frustrating to work in an environment where you have access to all of the software, computers and most important a one on one assistance with the projects necessary for the course. The lab is located on the East Campus, Electronics Building, room 109. Contact Penny Belus 575.6211 or Ken Sholar at 575.6722. The lab is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 9pm and Friday from 8am to 4pm. Please check to verify should there be a change.
To get through this class you will need the Adobe Flash CS4 software.
No other versions will be accepted. Expect to spend about $250 for the software.
You can purchase educational versions of the program - which contain all the features of the regular, corporate version - online at www.journeyed.com or www.campustech.com.
**There are no required books for this course **
LATE assignments will NOT be accepted. All assignments are absolutely due by midnight on the scheduled due date. Assignments are posted electronically via WebCT/Blackboard. Since we are dealing with technology here, I recommend not waiting until the last second or even the last day to post your assignment. Leave some time to deal with technical issues if a problem should arise with your posting. The assignments link will time out at exactly midnight and will not allow you to post after that.
Participation in asynchronous discussions (posting at least once a week) = 10% of total grade. Please post by mid week so others can respond to your posts.
Module Assignments = 90% of total grade. See break down:
How do I know my grade during the semester?
It is your responsibility to calculate your grade as the term progresses. Should you like to know the total percentage and any given time, just add up the points possible, then add up your earned points. Finally, divide the possible points into your earned points. This will give you a percentage to locate your current grade.
Incompletes are not an option in this class. Please consider this as the semester progresses and be aware of the drop dates.
Go to this website and use the browser check to be sure that you can run WebCt without problems.
Complete all projects, including reading and written assignments
Complete all quizzes
Participate in all class activities such as online synchronous and asynchronous discussions and other online classroom projects including all calendar postings.
Instructors for this course uphold their jurisdiction and responsibilities in the areas of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity as defined in the MJC Student Code of Conduct. The integrity policy follows:
"The grading of a student’s work rests on the fundamental idea that an instructor is evaluating a student’s own work, so cheating or plagiarism demonstrates a failure to complete this most basic requirement of any course. Thus a faculty member may administer academic consequences for violating the Academic Integrity Policy ranging from partial or no credit on an exam or assignment to an F in the course.
The instructor may also consider that a student’s violation of academic integrity should be a consideration for disciplinary measures, such as suspension or removal from the course or the college."
Refer to the course catalog for academic regulations or download a PDF version of the catalog (it's quite big) from: http://mjc.yosemite.cc.ca.us/catalog
If you have not already, download and install the following software.
QuickTime Movie Player allows you to play animations saved in this format
Flash Player plays flash animations
Shockwave Player plays shockwave animations
Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to read assignments in PDF format
Compression software a software for zipping files, required for assignment submission later in he semester Here are three sites for downloading a trial versions. Any if these will do.
PKzip
www.pkzip.com
Java Run applications and applets that use Java technology
LavaSoft: Download your free copy of Ad-Aware at Download.com
This application should be downloaded and installed on your system. It is a software that is made in Sweden and is recommended that you use it and run it periodically to preclude conflicts later.