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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==


This is a revised sample template for a introductory Flash course. It is based on my Webanimation ([[Flash]]) COAP 2110 courses at [http://www.webster.ch/ Webster University], Geneva. '''The actual syllabi were different'''.
This is a program for an introductory Flash course. It is based on my Webanimation ([[Flash]]) course at [http://www.webster.ch/ Webster University], Geneva. '''This is not the official syllabus nor the official program. See the (closed) Worldclassroom (Blackboard)'''.


; Course level learning outcomes (roughly)
; Major topics (roughly)
# Know the organization and tools of the Macromedia CS3 Flash Desktop
# Know the organization and tools of the Macromedia CS6 Flash Desktop
# Create simple drawings
# Create simple drawings
# Manipulation of graphics (e.g. envelope transforms, color gradients)
# Manipulation of graphics (e.g. envelope transforms, color gradients)
# Creating and using layers
# Creating and using layers
# Use of embedded movie clips
# Frame-by-frame, motion and shape animations
# Frame-by-frame, motion and shape animations
# Use of embedded movie clips
# Making use of non-Flash media files (graphics, sound and video)
# Incorporating non-Flash media files (graphics, sound and video)
# Interactivity in Flash, e.g. use of buttons, button components and some action script
# Simple interactivity in Flash, e.g. use of buttons, button components and some action script


; Teaching materials
== Weekly programs ==
* [[Flash]] tutorials in this wiki (lecture notes)
* Veer, E.A. Vander and Chris Grover (2007). Flash CS3: The Missing Manual. ISBN 0596510446 - 527 pages.
** [http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596510442/ O'Reilly page] for the book
** [http://www.missingmanuals.com/cds/flashcs3tmm/ Missing CD-ROM], materials used in the book.
* Flash Tutorials on the Internet


; Reference and overviews
Templates:
* [[Flash tutorials]] (a list of Flash tutorials in this wiki, not all are used here)
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/grading form|Grading form]]
* [[Flash CS3 keyboard shortcuts]]
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/doctemplate|homework template]] (to paste into the Flash file documentation: ''Modify->Document'' or hit CTRL-J)
* [[Flash formats and objects overview]]


== Program ==
''' Weekly programs''' (including homework, exams and term project)
We shall introduce 1-2 new topics per week. For the first 6 weeks we will assign mini-projects that will help you
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/week1|Week 1 - Homework 1]]
to learn the most important techniques.
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/week2|Week 2 - Homework 2]]
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/week3|Week 3 - Homework 3]]
** [[COAP:COAP-2110/mid-term|Mid term exam information]] (week 5)
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/week4|Week 4 - Homework 4]]
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/week5|Week 5 - Homework 5 / Midterm]]
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/week6|Week 6 - Homework 6]]
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/week7|Week 7 - Homework 7]]
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/week8|Week 8 - project presentations - final]]
** [[COAP:COAP-2110/final|final exam information]]
* [[COAP:COAP-2110/term project|Term project]]


=== Week 1 ===
== Teaching materials ==
Theme: Simple drawing and frame-by-frame animation


; Elements of the Flash Desktop
Also look at each weekly program !
* Handout: [[Flash CS3 desktop tutorial]]
* Handout: [[Flash CS3 keyboard shortcuts]]


; Creating simple Drawings
; Teaching materials
Topics: Stage size, Drawing modes, Selecting objects, Drawing and painting tools, Erasing and alignment, Colors, Adding text
* [[Flash tutorials]] (a list of Flash tutorials in this wiki, not all are used in this class)
* Handout: [[Flash drawing tutorial]]
* [[EduTech Wiki:Books/Flash CS6 - First steps|Flash CS6 - First steps]] List of tutorials used in this class + some extras. Also available as PDF


; Simple use of Layers
* Chris Grover (2012). Flash CS6: The Missing Manual, O'Reilly.
* Handout: [[Flash layers tutorial]]
** [http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920022787.do O'Reilly page] for the book
** [http://missingmanuals.com/cds/flashcs6mm/ Missing CD-ROM] or [http://examples.oreilly.com/0636920022787/ zip files], materials used in the book.
* Flash Tutorials on the Internet, e.g. see [[Flash and AS3 links]]


; Importing clipart and textures
; Reference and overviews
* Resource: [[Clipart]] and [[texture]]


; Frame-by-frame animation
* [[Flash]] (Tech overview)
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/frame-by-frame-intro/flash-cs3-shaking-hello.swf Shakin hello], [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/frame-by-frame-intro/flash-cs3-rocket-uncompressed.swf Rocket]
* [[Flash CS3 keyboard shortcuts]]
* Handout: [[Flash frame-by-frame animation tutorial]]
* [[Flash formats and objects overview]]
 
; External resources:
=== Week 2 ===
* [[Flash and AS3 links]] - Pointers to other documentation, including manuals and tutorials
Theme: Motion animation and embedded movie clips
 
; Introduction to motion animation
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/motion-tweening-intro/flash-cs3-motion-tweening.swf Moving cat], [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/motion-tweening-intro/flash-cs3-motion-shape-tweening.swf Moving, changing cat],
* Handout: [[Flash motion tweening tutorial]]
* Summary: [[Flash animation summary]] (optional)
 
; Symbols and embedded movie clips
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/motion-tweening-intro/flash-cs3-motion-guide-tweening2.swf Flying Rocket]
* Handout: [[Flash embedded movie clip tutorial]] (only the first 4 sections, i.e. skip the ActionScript parts)
 
=== Week 3 ===
Theme: Transformation of graphics and morphing
 
; Layers (again)
* Topics: Being organized
* Handout: [[Flash layers tutorial]]
 
; Transformation of objects
* Topics: Simple transformation (scaling, rotating, skewing, distorting), envelope transformation of a shape with either the select tool, envelope transforms or the sub-selection tool.
* Handout: [[Flash object transform tutorial]]
 
; Arranging objects
* Topics: align, stack, combine, break objects
* Handout: [[Flash arranging objects tutorial]]
 
; Colors and gradients
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/colors-intro/flash-cs3-colors-intro.html Colors]
* Handout: [[Flash colors tutorial]]
 
; Shape tweening
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/shape-tweening-intro/flash-cs3-shape-tweening-intro.swf Simple shape morph], [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/shape-tweening-intro/flash-cs3-shape-tweening-tear.swf Simple shape and motion morph], [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/shape-tweening-intro/flash-cs3-shape-picture-morphing.swf traced bitmaps morph], [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/shape-tweening-intro/flash-cs3-shape-tweening-in-motion.html Shape tweening in motion]
* Handout: [[Flash shape tweening tutorial]]
 
=== Week 4 ===
Theme: Basic interactiviy
 
; Introduction to buttons and some ActionScript
* Topics: Button frame-by-frame animation, creating slide shows (timeline navigation) with buttons
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/buttons-intro/flash-cs3-simple-slide-show.swf Simple slide show], [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/buttons-intro/flash-cs3-rocket-launcher.swf Rocket launcher], [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/buttons-intro/flash-cs3-simple-menu-site.html Menus with buttons], [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/buttons-intro/flash-cs3-image-map.html Image maps with pictures].
* Handout: [[Flash button tutorial]]
 
==== Mid-term Exam (Week 4) ====
I will test points mentioned in the [[Flash animation summary]] (read this to check what you should know)
* Contents: You will receive a *.fla file to complete/repair. Several tasks must be completed, some easy and some more difficult.
 
Prepare for the following subjects:
* Motion guide tweening
* Motion tweening with a shape modification (simple transform or tint)
* Shape tweening
* Color gradients
* Simple transforms (e.g. size)
* Drawing (only a little bit)
 
Other information:
* All materials are allowed (e.g. books, handouts, web pages)
* Use of communication tools is '''strictly forbidden''' (no chat, no mail, etc.). No talking between  students. Offenders may get an F.
 
Note: You can look at the [[Help:COAP-2110/exams2007|Mid Term exam 2007]]
 
=== Week 5 ===
Theme: Using sound and the button component
 
; Discussion
* Some past homework
* mid-term exam and term projects
* planning of term projects, the design process
* What do we mean by "quality?"
* The Term project
 
; Flash components, in particular the button component
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/components-intro/flash-cs3-simple-slide-show-menu.html Slide show with component button menu],
* Handout: [[Flash component button tutorial]]
 
; Sounds
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/sound-intro/flash-cs3-cloud-animation-sound.html Cloud animation with sound], ([http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/drag-and-drop-intro/flash-cs3-drag-and-drop-matching-3.html Drag and drop edutainment]
* Handout: [[Flash sound tutorial]] (adding sound to Frames)
 
; Term projects
* Objectives must be defined
 
=== Week 6 ===
Theme: Importing and augmenting videos
 
; Flash Video topics
* The FLV Video playback component
* The captioning component
* Dealing with cue points (jumping to cue points, using events generated by cue points)
* Previews:
** [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/component-video-intro/flash-cs3-video-simple-server.html Simple use of the FLVPLayback component]
** [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/component-video-intro/flash-cs3-video-simple-server-caption.html flash-cs3-video-simple-server-caption.html] (captions)
** [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/component-video-intro/flash-cs3-video-simple-server-caption2.html flash-cs3-video-simple-server-caption2.html] (captions)
** [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/component-video-intro/flash-cs3-video-simple-embedd.html flash-cs3-video-simple-embedd.html] (simple embedding)
** [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/component-video-intro/flash-cs3-video-timeline-embedd.html flash-cs3-video-timeline-embedd.html] (embedding with animation)
** [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/component-video-intro/flash-cs3-video-cue-events.html flash-cs3-video-cue-events.html] (use cue points to trigger animations)
 
* Handout: [[Flash Video component tutorial]]
 
=== Week 7 ===
Theme: Special effects, masks and more interactivity
 
; Special effects
* Timeline special effects (short summary)
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/special-effects/flash-cs3-special-timeline-effects.html flash-cs3-special-timeline-effects.html]
 
;Mask and masked layers:
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/special-effects/flash-cs3-mask.html flash-cs3-mask.html].
* Handout: [[Flash special effects tutorial]] (not handed out, print it or see chapter 6 of the textbook)
 
; Interactivity
* Previews: [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/action-script-3-intro/actionscript3-simple-object-manipulation.html Cat manipulation] - [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/action-script-3-intro/actionscript3-simple-object-manipulation-remote.html Remote cat manipulation] - [http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/drag-and-drop-intro/flash-cs3-drag-and-drop-matching-3.html Drag and drop edutainment]
* Handout: [[ActionScript 3 interactive objects tutorial]]
* Handout: [[Flash drag and drop tutorial]] (not distributed, contains longer AS code)
* Handout: [[Flash games tutorial]] (not distributed, only contains an example)
 
; Publishing on a web site (Wednesday)
* Copy all the files *.swf *.js *.html and resources (e.g. sound or video)
* Fix the generated HTML
* You also may modify some publish settings
 
; Term projects
* Final advise
 
=== Week 8 ===
 
==== Presentation of term projects ====
Each student will present his/her term project (unless the class is too big)
You will have to show the application on the teacher's machine and the projector. There is no need to prepare slides but be prepared to answer questions !
 
==== Final exam ====
 
The final exam focused on interactivity and students received a *.fla file to complete/repair. Several tasks had to be completed, some easy and some more difficult.
 
'''Prepare for the following subjects''':
* '''Buttons''':
** Using library *.fla buttons (just change the label)
** Using button components (label, change of width)
** Making your own buttons from simple (!) drawings (including drawings for the different button states)
* '''Videos and Sound''':
** Sound embedded into the timeline
** Videos embedded into the timeline
** Simple use of the video component
* '''ActionScript''':
** Simple event handling functions and registration of mouse events
** Simple ActionScript "instructions". No more than described in the [[ActionScript_3_interactive_objects_tutorial#Summary_of_essential_events_and_action_script_tricks|Summary of essential events and action script tricks]]
** Timeline organization: being able to stop animation and to jump to frames.
* You also should remember subjects from the previous exam (drawing and animation principles)
 
'''Not covered''' in the exam:
* ActionScript program flow (e.g. if and switch statements)
* Special effects
* Video captions, Video cue points
* Loading of external sources other than video.
* Keypress events
 
Other information:
* All materials are allowed (e.g. books, handouts, web pages)
* Use of communication tools is '''strictly forbidden''' (no chat, no mail, etc.). No talking between  students. Offenders may get an F.
 
Note: You can look at the [[Help:COAP-2110/exams2007|Final exam 2007]] (i.e. what I finally did)
 
== Homework ==
 
New series:
* [[Help:COAP-2110/project1|Homework 1]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/project2|Homework 2]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/project3|Homework 3]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/project4|Homework 4]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/project5|Homework 5]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/project6|Homework 6]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/project7|Homework 7]]
 
* [[Help:COAP-2110/grading form|Grading form]]
 
Old series:
* [[Help:COAP-2110/hw1|Homework 1]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/hw2|Homework 2]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/hw3|Homework 3]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/hw4|Homework 4]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/hw5|Homework 5]]
* [[Help:COAP-2110/hw6|Homework 6]]
 
== Term project ==
 
=== Kinds of projects ===
 
The term project could take several forms, e.g.
* A splash page
* A multimedia presentation (audio, pictures, movie clips etc.)
* An educational animation (explaining a concept)
* An animated comic strip
* A sophisticated animated logo
* Part of a game (difficult)
 
There is no obligation to use all techniques learnt so far.
 
=== Constraints and major evaluation criteria ===
 
* Clear objectives and that are met
* Aesthetics
* Usability
* Good code
 
You may reuse 1/3 of imported artwork as is, 1/3 imported and modified. 1/3 must be drawn by yourself.
 
=== Elements that must be included ===
 
* Button that leads to a credits page
* A 1-page report (as Word, PDF or HTML File) handed in separately. Use the same kind of structure as in the [[Help:COAP-2110/doctemplate|homework template]], but make it a bit longer and better than for a typical homework.
 
=== Advice ===


* Make it a reasonable project
; Assets
* Typically, it should not exceed three times the length of a typical homework project
* Focus on quality.


=== Evaluation grid ===
* [[Clipart]], in particular check out http://openclipart.org/ and import via Illustrator
* [[Texture]]
* [[Sound Assets]]


* O: Clear objectives and that are met (global coherence): -/0/++
* A: Aesthetics: -/0/++
* U: Usability: -/0/+
* Q: Good code and Flash documentation: -/0/+
* R: Report and credits "page": -/0/++
* C: Complexity: -/0/++
* L: Late/no presentation: -


[[Category: Courses and workshops]]
[[Category: Courses and workshops]]

Latest revision as of 14:39, 14 November 2016

Introduction

This is a program for an introductory Flash course. It is based on my Webanimation (Flash) course at Webster University, Geneva. This is not the official syllabus nor the official program. See the (closed) Worldclassroom (Blackboard).

Major topics (roughly)
  1. Know the organization and tools of the Macromedia CS6 Flash Desktop
  2. Create simple drawings
  3. Manipulation of graphics (e.g. envelope transforms, color gradients)
  4. Creating and using layers
  5. Use of embedded movie clips
  6. Frame-by-frame, motion and shape animations
  7. Making use of non-Flash media files (graphics, sound and video)
  8. Interactivity in Flash, e.g. use of buttons, button components and some action script

Weekly programs

Templates:

Weekly programs (including homework, exams and term project)

Teaching materials

Also look at each weekly program !

Teaching materials
Reference and overviews
External resources
Assets