March
31

Cesar Chavez Day, no class

1
April
2

Overview of class expectations, objectives and guidelines

History of Interactive Authoring

Interactive Authoring

Scripting Language
Which ones
Language history
Object-oriented language

What is a scripting language, anyway?

Objects
Commands
Properties
Syntax

 

2
April
7

actionScript deconstructed

What is a Script?
What is an Action?
Where do ActionScripts live?
Who do ActionScripts direct?
How do you build them?

The Actions Panel

How to access it
What's in it?
Ala mode

Let's write some code!

Simple variables
Do an operation
Keeping track of things with variables
Arguments
Operators (a few)
Expressions
Conditionals
Loops

Exercises

 

Quick project assigned: A short animation using multiple techniques

3
April
9

Movie control

First some jargon

Effecting the timeline
Targets
Instances
Objects
Instances as Objects

Let's build a movie

The movie
Let's add some interactivity
Callbacks
Deeper and deeper

Exercises

 

 

4
April
14

Remember variables?

Containers, nothing more
Datatypes again
Clash of the titans: reserved words
In sensitive so and so

What goes in must come out

Inputs and outputs
Decisions, decisions
Flag! You're it!
Bean counters

Quiz One

Exercises

 

Quick Project Due

First quiz

5
April
16

Basic Sound

Two kinds
Keep'm under control
Callbacks
Deeper and deeper

More control over sound

Construction junction, what's my function?
More control
More stupid sound tricks
And more...

Arrays in Disarray

A metaphor
Building arrays
What's in its drawers?
Now what?
A chance to manipulate
Other Tricks

Exercises

 

6
April
21

Arrays in Disarray

Loop d' loop
Search and array
Cross indexing arrays

Let's play Hangman! The Graphics

Let's play Hangman! The Code

Three conceptual chunks
Movie setup code
Game setup code
Game play code
The result

Exercises

 

 

7
April
23

Building functions

What are functions?
Why build functions?
How to build functions
Legibility

Pass it along with parameters

Adding parameters (A.K.A. arguments)

What goes around, comes around

"return"
Returning values

Function scope/availability

Direct accessibility
Indirect accessibility
Mess'n with the locals

Does this look familiar?

Internal functions

Quiz Two

Exercises

 

Second Quiz

8
April
28

Interactive training?

What is interactive training?
Where is it used?
Examples

Flash Components

CheckBox
ComboBox
ListBox
RadioButtons

Project requirements

 

Work on Homework01

Begin interactive training project

9
April
30

Built-in objects

Math Object

Syntax
Top Math Methods
Get A Random Number Function
Other Methods
Properties

Color Object

Counter-Intelligence
You Need The Color Object
Get A Random Number Function
Weirdness: Get and Set Transform
Other Built-in Objects

 

Homework01 Due

10
May
5

Happy Cinco De Mayo

More And More Objects

Methods And Properties
Top Math Methods
Get A Random Number Function
Other Methods
Properties

Useful Objects

Date Object
String Object
Key Object
New Concept: Listeners
Button Object

Exercises

 

11
May
7

Organization!

Storyboarding

The Development Process
What Is A Storyboard
Why Storyboard?

ActionScript Flowcharting

Ambivalent Feelings
Basic Symbols
An Example
Links

Organizing Code

Encapsulation

Exercises

 

12
May
12

Odds & Ends

Components
TextField Listener Mystery
Selection Listener Improved

Work on Training Project

 

13
May
14

Work on Training Project

 

14
May
19

Final Project Assigned

Links to examples

GOTCHA

Callbacks and objects

 

Training project due

Begin final project

15
May
21

Work on project at home

16
May
26

Memorial Day, no class

17
May
28

Flash MX Video

Flash Video Basics

Importing Video: Linked vs. Embedded

Useful links

 

 

18
June
2

Bits & Pieces

The Debugger

startDrag( ), stopDrag( ) & _dropTarget

duplicateMovieClip( )

Work on project

 

 

19
June
4

Work on project

20
June
11

FINAL CRITIQUE

Class starts at 3:00 pm and ends until 4:50 pm