Module Information
Module Identifier
ED12010
Module Title
INTRODUCTION TO FLASH
Academic Year
2010/2011
Co-ordinator
Semester
Intended for use in future years
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Other | 2 sessions at 3 hours each. Each session is a combination of a lecture and a practical. |
| Other | 4 sessions at 3.5 hours each. Each session is a combination of a lecture and a practical. |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Project 1 Create a personal Flash presentation | 70% |
| Semester Assessment | Project 2 Visual Diary | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Project 3 Presentation of Flash Project | 10% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Supplementary Project 1 All failed elements of the assessments must be re-taken if the student's average mark falls below the required pass mark of 40%. Resubmission of failed component. Create a New Personal Flash Presentation | 70% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Supplementary Project 2 All failed elements of the assessments must be re-taken if the student's average mark falls below the required pass mark of 40%. Resubmission of failed component. Visual Diary of new Flash Project | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Supplementary Project 3 All failed elements of the assessments must be re-taken if the student's average mark falls below the required pass mark of 40%. Resubmission of failed component. Project: Produce a single screen presentation advertising the Flash course | 10% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Within the personal Flash project, design, construct and complete an appropriate presentation incorporating graphics, symbols, text, animations and links with clarity of communication and showing due consideration for good design techniques.
Demonstrate an understanding of methods and techniques for producing successful Flash designs, from planning to publication through the Visual diary and Personal Project.
Produce a presentation appraising their Flash project and experiences relating to it.
Brief description
This is very much a hands-on module explaining the basics of designing Flash movies and web content. Students will start by learning and analysing the composition of a Flash movie before moving on to learning basic design skills. We would encourage students to become confident with designing simple movies initially before progressing on to more advanced features as their skills and confidence grow, enabling them by the end of the course, to be competent in producing and publishing web-based multimedia content independently.
The focus for the module will be on developing techniques to enable students to produce their own content and movies; to this end, they will be encouraged to make use of their own ideas, original images and research material for their own projects.
The focus for the module will be on developing techniques to enable students to produce their own content and movies; to this end, they will be encouraged to make use of their own ideas, original images and research material for their own projects.
Content
Pre module study: Students are given a general brief of their main project and asked to research and make notes on existing websites that contain Flash content and evaluate their effectiveness for purpose. This can be sent across as an email attachment from Blackboard
Eg: With Flash animation(s) as constituent parts of investigated web page(s), consider role, purpose, positive or negative contribution, good/bad design, layouts, first impressions, time to load, time to run, etc.
Notes from this research will be recorded in the visual diary - 4 hours - and will form the start of the visual diary.
Session 1: 3 hours
Introduction to the University Computer System and the Flash Interface.
The students will be made aware of the University computer facilities including accessing their filestore from within the University network and from outside, access to study facilities outside class time, using their webmail facility and Information Services resources.
Lecture: Introduction to the Flash interface.
Practical: Students create a basic Flash presentation.
Brief evaluation / discussion
Home study: Visual diary: Sketch out a design for a basic Flash presentation of their own.
Session 2: 3 hours
Working with Graphics and Symbols.
Lecture 1: Working with Graphics in Flash Design. Covering the use of the drawing tools within Flash, importing and modifying graphics, filling, grouping and creating simple animations
Practical 1: Students undertake drawing exercises to create their own graphics and apply animation techniques.
Home study 1: Create a series of bitmap images for the design from the previous session. Include in visual diary.
Lecture 2: Working with Symbols in Flash Design. Covering the different types of symbols, creating basic symbols from scratch and from imports, storage of imports, converting different file types and using web-safe colours.
Practical 2: Students undertake exercises to create a variety of symbols for different purposes.
Home study 2: Create a series of symbols suitable for use in the original presentation designed after session 1. Include in visual diary.
Session 3: 3.5 hours
Working with Text
Lecture 1: Working with Text in Flash Design. Including creating, editing and formatting text, converting to symbols and animating.
Practical 1: Students undertake exercises to create a range of symbols using text and explore different animation techniques.
Discussion: Animation in multimedia presentations - what is "appropriate"?
Home study 1: Reflect and evaluate the session and discussion
Working with Animation
Lecture 2: Working with Animation in Flash Design. Covering the use of motion, morphing and paths.
Practical 2: Students carry out exercises to experiment with motion tweens and shape tweens to identify the differences between them and understand the occasions when each might be used.
Tutorial 2: Mid-term personal evaluation.
Briefing: Issue and discuss main project.
Home study 2: Commence main project. Sketch out ideas and plan in visual diary.
Session 4: 3.5 hours
Developing User Interactivity
Lecture 1: Use of Interactive Files. Introducing methods of engaging the viewer in interactivity using various methods such as buttons and symbols and exploring design variations such as rollover states, multiple image buttons and nested symbols.
Practical 1: Students undertake exercises to create a range of interactive buttons and symbols, experimenting with different design concepts.
Home study 1: Continue design of main project to incorporate user interactivity with appropriate design, links and/or actions. Include in visual diary.
Introducing Activescript
Lecture 2: Extending Flash Design Using Activescript. Understanding its role in Flash Design and learning basic Activesript language.
Practical 2: Students will write basic scripts to perform a range of functions to extend Flash capability.
Home study 2: Continuation of main project. Include in visual diary.
Session 5: 3.5 hours
Introducing Components
Lecture 1: Extending Flash Design Using Components. Understanding typical components that are available and exploring potential uses.
Practical 1: Students will undertake exercises to add components into Flash presentations then modify, configure and enable them.
Home study 1: Continuation of main project. Include in visual diary.
Working with Sound
Lecture 2: Incorporating Sound in Flash Design.
Practical 2: Students will complete exercises to incorporate a variety of sound files and effects into Flash presentations.
Home study 2: Completion of main project and preparation of presentation. Include in visual diary.
Session 6: 3.5 hours
Final Considerations
Lecture: Loading, Optimising and Publishing the Flash presentation.
Practical: Presentation of completed Flash presentation to peer group.
Eg: With Flash animation(s) as constituent parts of investigated web page(s), consider role, purpose, positive or negative contribution, good/bad design, layouts, first impressions, time to load, time to run, etc.
Notes from this research will be recorded in the visual diary - 4 hours - and will form the start of the visual diary.
Session 1: 3 hours
Introduction to the University Computer System and the Flash Interface.
The students will be made aware of the University computer facilities including accessing their filestore from within the University network and from outside, access to study facilities outside class time, using their webmail facility and Information Services resources.
Lecture: Introduction to the Flash interface.
Practical: Students create a basic Flash presentation.
Brief evaluation / discussion
Home study: Visual diary: Sketch out a design for a basic Flash presentation of their own.
Session 2: 3 hours
Working with Graphics and Symbols.
Lecture 1: Working with Graphics in Flash Design. Covering the use of the drawing tools within Flash, importing and modifying graphics, filling, grouping and creating simple animations
Practical 1: Students undertake drawing exercises to create their own graphics and apply animation techniques.
Home study 1: Create a series of bitmap images for the design from the previous session. Include in visual diary.
Lecture 2: Working with Symbols in Flash Design. Covering the different types of symbols, creating basic symbols from scratch and from imports, storage of imports, converting different file types and using web-safe colours.
Practical 2: Students undertake exercises to create a variety of symbols for different purposes.
Home study 2: Create a series of symbols suitable for use in the original presentation designed after session 1. Include in visual diary.
Session 3: 3.5 hours
Working with Text
Lecture 1: Working with Text in Flash Design. Including creating, editing and formatting text, converting to symbols and animating.
Practical 1: Students undertake exercises to create a range of symbols using text and explore different animation techniques.
Discussion: Animation in multimedia presentations - what is "appropriate"?
Home study 1: Reflect and evaluate the session and discussion
Working with Animation
Lecture 2: Working with Animation in Flash Design. Covering the use of motion, morphing and paths.
Practical 2: Students carry out exercises to experiment with motion tweens and shape tweens to identify the differences between them and understand the occasions when each might be used.
Tutorial 2: Mid-term personal evaluation.
Briefing: Issue and discuss main project.
Home study 2: Commence main project. Sketch out ideas and plan in visual diary.
Session 4: 3.5 hours
Developing User Interactivity
Lecture 1: Use of Interactive Files. Introducing methods of engaging the viewer in interactivity using various methods such as buttons and symbols and exploring design variations such as rollover states, multiple image buttons and nested symbols.
Practical 1: Students undertake exercises to create a range of interactive buttons and symbols, experimenting with different design concepts.
Home study 1: Continue design of main project to incorporate user interactivity with appropriate design, links and/or actions. Include in visual diary.
Introducing Activescript
Lecture 2: Extending Flash Design Using Activescript. Understanding its role in Flash Design and learning basic Activesript language.
Practical 2: Students will write basic scripts to perform a range of functions to extend Flash capability.
Home study 2: Continuation of main project. Include in visual diary.
Session 5: 3.5 hours
Introducing Components
Lecture 1: Extending Flash Design Using Components. Understanding typical components that are available and exploring potential uses.
Practical 1: Students will undertake exercises to add components into Flash presentations then modify, configure and enable them.
Home study 1: Continuation of main project. Include in visual diary.
Working with Sound
Lecture 2: Incorporating Sound in Flash Design.
Practical 2: Students will complete exercises to incorporate a variety of sound files and effects into Flash presentations.
Home study 2: Completion of main project and preparation of presentation. Include in visual diary.
Session 6: 3.5 hours
Final Considerations
Lecture: Loading, Optimising and Publishing the Flash presentation.
Practical: Presentation of completed Flash presentation to peer group.
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4