This unit provides a focus on specialist tools and techniques that are used for developing content-rich interactive multimedia systems using Adobe Flash. This unit will cover fundamental multimedia principles and best practice theory, the application of practical development processes, the integration of mixed-media assets, interactive design and ActionScript programming for digital media and different technologies for product deployment. Students will create content-rich interactive applications and/or web-based products using an industry standard authoring tool, Adobe Flash, and will gain an understanding of the role of digital media within the broader technology environment.
2 hrs lectures/week, 2 hrs tutorials/week
Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week during semester on this unit.
This will include:
Lectures: 2 hours per week
Tutorials/Lab Sessions: 2 hours per week per tutorial
and up to an additional 8 hours in some weeks for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.
Cheryl Howard
Contact hours: By Appointment only
Cheryl Howard
Contact hours: By Appointment only
Cheryl Howard
Contact hours: By Appointment only
Cheryl Howard
Contact hours: By Appointment only
Zenon Charalambous
Contact hours: By Appointment only
At the completion of this unit students will have -
A theoretical and conceptual understanding of:
Examination (3 hours): 40%; In-semester assessment: 60%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Development Project | 40% | By 4pm Friday of the specified weeks 3, 7 and 12 |
| Assigned Homework | 20% | In scheduled Tutorial times |
| Examination 1 | 40% | To be advised |
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Overview of the unit Assignment overview Development projects | |
| 2 | Project decomposition Using Flash Symbols Flash animation basics | Homework 01 |
| 3 | ActionScript basics Variables, conditions, etc Navigation structures | Submit completed Interface Design Specification |
| 4 | Introducing pseudo-code, document class, maths functions Text, Fonts & Formatting | Homework 02 |
| 5 | Custom classes, decisions (if/switch) , display list, Class Diagrams | |
| 6 | Movie clips states, timers and scripted animation, custom cursors & dispatch events | Homework 03 |
| 7 | Loops, arrays, data objects Debugging & API doc | Submit Navigation/GUI Prototype with Splash Animation and Development Strategy Documentation |
| 8 | Multiple classes, inheritance, keyboard input & collision detection | Homework 04 |
| 9 | Using sound objects and video in flash | |
| 10 | Loading External files (SWF, text & image), saving data with shared objects | Homework 05 |
| 11 | Integrating other APIs in Flash (Google Maps) | |
| 12 | Flash tricks and tips Project wrap-up Exam Preparation | Submit Flash Development Project |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.
To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:
If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit
The practical game project will be developed in the Flash CS5 authoring environment and worth 40% of the final grade which will be marked out of 100. The marks for the assigned game development project are as follows:
Project Design (35)
15 Interface Design Specification Document submitted in Week 3.The criteria for this component will include:
20 Navigation/Graphic Prototype with Splash Animation and Development Strategy Documentation submitted in Week 7. The criteria for this component will include:
Project Implementation (65)
65 A functional project (developed to at least an Alpha standard) to be submitted in Week 12. The criteria for this component will include:
Each of the 5 assigned Homework tasks being marked out of 10. The marks for the assigned homework are as follows:
2 meeting all the functional requirements of the task
5 using a methodical approach to development of the task solution
3 the appropriate application of good programming practices
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis
Reading List:
Textbooks & Recommended Reading
The ActionScript: Visual Blueprint textbook chapters are aligned to each week and provide additional information to help you improve your skills and knowledge of the Flash CS5 programming language. It is strongly recommended that you acquire this book as a reference to assist your project development. The other textbook provides additional information to help you improve your skills and knowledge of the Flash authoring environment. It is recommend reading only if you want to develop your Flash animation skills and general knowledge base.
ActionScript: Your visual blueprint for creating interactive projects in Flash CS4 Professional by Rob Huddleston, Wiley (2009)
Visual learners can get up and running quickly on ActionScript programming skills for Flash CS4+. If you're a programmer who learns best when you see how something is done, this book will have you up and running with ActionScript in no time. Step-by-step, two-page lessons show you the core programming foundations you must master to create rich application and Internet content using the preferred language for working with Flash. The visual approach breaks big topics into bite-sized modules, with high-resolution screen shots to illustrate each task.
Foundation Flash CS5 for Designers by Tom Green and Tiago Dias, Friends of Ed (2010)
This text focuses on the use of the Flash tools and design techniques that can be applied to them. The exercises provide a wide range of interesting tricks, tips and techniques – more than can be covered by this unit, without getting hindered by the technical aspects of Flash’s authoring environment. Working through the exercises of one chapter each week will significantly increase your animation and design skills, and provide you with a solid foundation for the integration of assets with ActionScript 3.0.
Files for the exercises can be downloaded from: http://www.friendsofed.com/download.html?isbn=1430229942