Week 1: Getting Acquainted
1/27-2/2

Topics:

• Course Introduction
• Flash Introduction
• Opening files
• Adding Layers
• Editing Keyframes
• Properties Inspector
• Panels
• Flash Help
• Online resources

• If your dog ate the CD that came with the required text, you may download a 21 Mb zip file containing the Start and End files for the textbook Lessons 1 thru 6 in Flash CS3 format*.
• Download a 36 Mb zip file containing the Start and End files for the textbook Lessons 1 thru 6 in Flash 8 format*.
• Download a 35 Mb zip file containing the files for Lessons 1 thru 6 in Flash MX 2004 format files.
• If you have trouble with the zip files, download the individual files here

• Read the Syllabus
• Explore the course web site on Blackboard
• Complete the Student Information Survey on Blackboard
• Read textbook: "Getting Started"
• Begin textbook Lesson 1, "Getting Acquainted"
• Lab 1: Get Acquainted With Blackboard Discussions

Week 2: Working With Graphics
2/3-2/9

Topics:

• Drawing modes
• Color Tools
• Modify Objects
• Fills and Strokes

• I have created my own video tutorials for an Introduction and Lesson 1 of your text
• Watch a video tutorial on the Flash Workspace
• You may find this introduction to the Flash interface helpful.
• For those who find Lesson 1 a bit overwhelming, you may find the first portion of this Lesson Supplement a little more friendly (view a video tutorial).
• Here is a Lesson Supplement video tutoral on Selecting Frames and Editing KeyFrames.

• Textbook Lesson 2, "Working With Graphics"
• Lab 2: Working With Graphics

Week 3: Working With Graphics (continued)
2/10-2/16

Topics:

• Import bitmaps for fills
• Animation 'Tweens'
• Groups
• Masks

• Here is this week's video tutorial on Lesson 2 of your textbook
• Here is a supplemental video for Lesson 2 on Drawing Overlapping Objects in Flash
• You may find this video tutorial on Flash CS3, DrawingTools.mov helpful
• You may also find this supplementary lesson on drawing with Flash helpful.

• DUE: Lab 1 (2/12)

Week 4: Creating and Editing Symbols
2/17-2/23

Topics:

• Graphics File Import
• Symbol Creation
• Symbol Types
• Transparency
• Library Assets
• Bitmap to Vector Conversion
• Web-safe Colors

• You may find this supplementary lesson on creating and editing symbols with Flash helpful (view a video tutorial).
• NEW!! Video tutorial on Lesson 3 of the text
• Here is a single .fla file containing many of the Buttons provided with Flash.

• Textbook Lesson 3, "Creating and Editing Symbols"
• Lab 3: Creating and Editing Symbols
• QUIZ 1 on Lesson 1 (available 2/19, DUE 3/4)
• DUE: Lab 2 (2/19)

Week 5: Working With Text
2/24-3/1

Topics:

• Text Creation
• Text Formatting
• Text Symbols
• Text Animation
• Layer Organization
• Text Filters
• Text Tweening

• Here are some ways to create text motion tweens and shape tween 'morphs' with Flash (view a video tutorial).

• Textbook Lesson 4, "Working With Text"
• Lab 4: Working With Text

Note: February 29 is the last day to apply for CR/NC for semester length classes

Week 6: Working With Text (continued)
3/2-3/8

• Continuation from Week 5
• Here is a video tutorial of Lesson 4 of the text.

• Participate in the week 6&7 Blackboard course discussion, "Flash Examples"
• DUE: QUIZ 1 (3/4)
• QUIZ 2 on Lessons 2 and 3 (available 3/4, Due 3/25)

Week 7: Adding Animation
3/9-3/15

Topics:

• Motion Tweens
• Shape Tween 'Morphs'
• Nesting Symbols
• Motion along paths
• Animation with Masks
• Transparency

• Here is a Video Tutorial on Lesson 5 of the textbook on Adding Animation

• Textbook, Lesson 5, "Adding Animation"
• Lab 5: Adding Animation
• DUE: Lab 3 (3/11)

Week 8:
3/16-3/22

Week 9: Creating Interactive Files
3/23-3/29

• Gradients
• Creating Buttons
• Animate Rollovers
• Duplicate Symbols
• Nest Symbols
• Use Frame Labels
• ActionScript

• You may find the Lynda.com video tutorial SymbolsandInstances.mov useful
• Watch this video tutorial on creating a non-linear interactive template interface. (HTML)
• Here is a video tutorial to help you get a better idea what is expected for Lab 6.

• Textbook, Lesson 6, "Creating Interactive Files"
• Participate in the week 9&10 course discussion, "Is Flash Bad?"
• QUIZ 3: Lessons 4, 5, and 6
• DUE: Lab 4 (3/25)
• DUE: QUIZ 2 (3/25)
• DUE: Discussion for weeks 6&7 (3/25)
• Lab 6: Creating Interactive Files

Week 10: ActionScript Basics
3/30-4/5

Topics:

• Actions panel
• ScriptAssist
• Conditional Statements
• Load data from url
• Event Listeners
• Assign Button actions

• Watch this ScriptAssist.mov video tutorial from Lynda.com useful.
• Here is a short video on what is expected for the Lab 7 assignment.

• Textbook, Lesson 7, "ActionScript Basics"

Week 11: Review
4/6-4/12

• Review
• Here are examples of how to create simple stick figure animation, 1) walking stick figure and, 2) dancing stick figure
• Here is an example of how to use the Shape Tween morph effect to create waves
• Here is an example of how to create popup button "tabs"
• Here is an example of how to use ActionScript 2.0 to make an object track the mouse cursor
• Here is an example of how to use ActionScript 2.0 to make an object follow a circular path

• Review Lessons 1-6
• Participate in the week 11&12 course discussion, "Flash topics of interest for the remainder of the course"
• Lab 7: ActionScript Basics
• DUE: Lab 5 (4/8)
• DUE: week 9&10 discussion (4/8)

Week 12: Review
4/13-4/19

Topics:

• Review
• Here is a link to a comparison of vector vs. bitmap formats for downloading

• Review Lessons 1-6
• DUE: Lab 6 (4/15)
• DUE: QUIZ 3 (4/15)

Topics:

• Add Components
• Modify Parameters
• Configure interactivity
• Add ActionScript

• You may find the Lynda.com video tutorial Components.mov useful.
• Download the files from the textbook for this lesson.

• Textbook, Lesson 8, "Using Components"
• Lab 8: Using Components

Week 14: Optional Material
4/27-5/3

Topics:

• Edit sound files
• Import video files
• Use Video Components
• Work with video alpha channels
• Understand import options

• You may find the Lynda.com video tutorial UsingVideo.mov useful.

• Total Training has provided a series of excellent video tutorials on sound editing you may find helpful.
• Here is another simple tutorial on video playback

• Textbook, Lesson 9, "Working With Sound and Video"
• Lab 9: Flash Maps
• DUE: Lab 7 (4/29)
• Begin Interface Project

• Review of Lessons 1 through 9
• Here is an example of how to simulate a growing vine using motion tweens and masks

• Review
• QUIZ 4 on Lessons 7, and 8 (Available 4/29, Due 5/20)
• Participate in the week 15&16 course discussion, "How to Use Flash to Make the World a Better Place"
• DUE: week 11&12 discussion (5/6)
• DUE: Lab 8 (5/6)
• Interface Project

• Interface Project

• Interface Project

• Interface Project

• DUE: Lab 9 (5/20)
• DUE: QUIZ 4 (5/20)
• DUE: Week 15&16 Discussion.

FINAL EXAMS: May 27 - June 3.

FINAL PROJECT DUE Monday, June 2.

GD222 Final Exam will be Tuesday, May 27, 6-8pm.