ART-298 : INTERACTIVE MEDIA

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Interactive Multimedia teaches the basic principles of building illustrations and photographs into time-based computer visuals with sound using Adobe Flash CS3. Students will learn how to use the basic features of Flash including animation, drawing, interactivity, buttons, symbols, movie clips, sound, scenes, introductory ActionScript and other features of the program.

PREREQUISITE
ART-126 Introduction to Computer Graphics

TEXTBOOK
“Visual Quickstart Guide Flash CS4 Professional” by Katherine Ulrich
Peachpit Press
ISBN-13: 978-0-321-59192-0ISBN-10: 0-321-59192-5

MATERIALS
A portable USB Drive with at least 2.0 GB of memory. You must back up all of your work.

LEARNING GOALS

Students will be able to use the tools, interface and capabilities of Flash including:

• Flash Basics
• Type Effects
• Drawing and Painting Tools and Related Issues
• Buttons and Actions
• Animations
• Flash Websites
• Basics of Interactivity (Action Scripting)
• Integration of Flash files into websites
  
  PROCEDURES

• Lectures, discussion, demonstrations
• Reading technical manuals
• Practicing with Flash to acquire hands-on experience
• Explore web resources
• Projects in class and homework
• Independent projects
• Expect to spend at least 4 hours outside class in free time labs and/or on home workstations

GRADING POLICY

Assignments and class participation are evaluated based on achievement of technical and creative concepts, thoughtfulness, attention to detail, effort and originality of approach.
If you are concerned about your grade please do not hesitate to contact me.
Generally grades follow these criteria:
A =  Student whose work and work ethics display exceptional effort and care
B =  Student displays good work ethic, completes assignments with thought and care
C = Average work and average effort
D = Student presents below average work and displays little effort in completing assignments
F = Student does not complete assignments and/or attend class
For final grading purposes:
Homework and class projects   25%
Participation in discussions, critiques and attendance 25%
Mid-term project  25%
Final project 25%

ATTENDANCE

Attendance will be taken during each class period. Success in this class is dependent upon the student's participation in the activities and interaction with other students. Skill and knowledge is acquired by doing and participating. This cannot occur if a student is not in class. Therefore, three unexcused absences will result in the lowering of a full letter grade at the end of the semester. Late arrivals and early departures will be noted and count as a half of an absence. Frequent absence and/or tardiness will result in the failure of the course.

*Due to my commute from Brooklyn there may be times when I am unavoidably late to class due to traffic or weather. Fortunately our class is 4 hours per session. In the event that I am late I will notify the Arts & Communications office or the Night Office. Please check with these offices for information. If I am late, you are still required to attend class and work until I arrive. If the class is cancelled the office will notify you.

DEADLINES
Finished projects will be due at the beginning of class on the day of the deadline.  Every week that the project is late it will lose a letter grade.

TIPS

• Don’t leave projects until the last minute – it takes time to develop ideas and produce the results you intend.
• Make more than the minimum assigned number of projects. Projects develop with practice and feed on each other, so, the more effort you put in the better the results will be.
• Keep up with the reading in order to fully participate in class discussions.
• The weekly schedule may change as the semester goes on. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to contact me or another student to get class notes and to be prepared for the in class projects. Exchange phone numbers with classmates at the beginning of the semester.
• PLEASE email or call me with any questions or needs you may have.
• If you have to miss a class let me know IN ADVANCE so we can work something out.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

NOTE: Weekly schedule may occasionally change due to the pace of projects and topics. It is your responsibility to check with me or other students to get information you may have missed and to be prepared for the next class.

WEEK 1	Introducing FLASH: Becoming familiar with the application: Main Timeline, Drawing tools
WEEK 2	Animation 1: Motion Tweening, Motion Guides, Shape Tweening Create a banner animation 150x750
WEEK 3	Animation 2: Motion Tweening, Motion Guides, Shape Tweening Create a insert animation 350x250
WEEK 4	Library  Importing image assets and file management Symbols: Graphic, Movie Clip, Button and Rollovers
WEEK 5	Animation 3: Masking and Advanced Techniques Create a page animation 480x640
WEEK 6	Analyzing Flash on the Web Begin Mid-term Project Multiple shape tweens, Shape hints, Easing
WEEK 7	Work time for Mid Term Project
WEEK 8	Mid-Term Project DUE
WEEK 9	Interactivity 1: actions on the main timeline Create a Slideshow Portfolio
WEEK 10	Interactivity 2: behaviors, components
WEEK 11	Building a Website with Flash Action Scripting
WEEK 12	Action Scripting
WEEK 13	Action Scripting
WEEK 14	Produce Flash video for use on the web How to import sound
WEEK 15	Work time for Final Interactivity Project
WEEK 16	Final Project DUE