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Ms Cheryl Howard
Lecturer
Phone: +61 3 990 47158

Lecturer(s) / Leader(s):

Berwick

Ms Cheryl Howard
Lecturer
Phone: +61 3 990 47158

Contact hours: Tuesday 10-1pm and 2-5pm

Caulfield

Ms Cheryl Howard
Lecturer
Phone: +61 3 990 47158

Contact hours: Thursday 1-3pm and 5-6pm

Mr William Lay

Contact hours: Tuesday 1-2pm

Introduction

Welcome to FIT9028 Digital Media Authoring for Semester 2, 2008. This 6 point unit is a General Elective or part of the Master of Multimedia for Art & Design degree. The unit has been designed to provide you with an understanding of the principles and practices of programming within a multimedia authoring environment. It explores developing applications using the current version of Flash and ActionScript 3.0.

Unit synopsis

This unit provides a focus on specialist tools and techniques that are used for developing content-rich interactive multimedia systems. This unit will cover fundamental multimedia principles, practical development processes, the integration of mixed-media assets, interactive design and programming for digital media and different technologies for product deployment. Students will create content-rich interactive CD-ROM products using industry standard authoring tools and will gain an understanding of the role of digital media within the broader technology environment.

Learning outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will have a theoretical and conceptual understanding of:
  1. information technology and the software tools as they relate to (and are used in) multimedia systems
  2. the Adobe Flash and Adobe Director authoring environments for CD-ROM and web based systems development
  3. codecs and compression techniques associated with digital video, images and sound and the appropriate application of these for use in ROM development
  4. the formal process undertaken for preparing and documenting the various development stages of a multimedia system
  5. how to achieve a range of special effects which are commonly required for advanced interactive design in multimedia systems
  6. fundamental programming techniques and how to carry this knowledge across multiple languages

At the completion of this unit students will have developed attitudes that provide them with:
  1. outline strengths and weaknesses of information technology in the context of the development and use of multimedia systems
  2. make informed decisions on the most appropriate blend of tools and technologies to support a given multimedia system requirement
  3. formulate constructive criticism within the construct of critical analysis.

At the completion of this unit students will have developed skills to enable them to:
  1. apply advanced interactive design techniques to a multimedia system using time/frame based authoring environments
  2. use a blend of industry standard multimedia tools and products
  3. write code to assist in advanced system interaction with the programming languages Lingo and/or ActionScript
  4. further enhance and refine user interface and navigational design and creativity skills in multimedia systems
  5. specify an appropriate toolset for developing and supporting advanced features/functionality in a multimedia system

At the completion of this unit students will have developed the teamwork skills needed to:
  1. build confidence in formal presentation techniques presenting personal ideas, research concepts and developmental progress
  2. discuss and share developmental processes and techniques within an informal populated environment

Contact hours

4 contact hrs/week (comprising 2 hrs lecture, 2 hrs tutorial) plus 8 hrs/week of self-directed study, project/assignment work.

Workload

Broadly the time required to complete this topic is shown in the following table, but note this is just a rough indication. You may need to spend more time on some activities depending on your background and knowledge. In addition, you need to spend extra time on assignments and review.

Attending lectures and reviewing notes 3 hours
Doing activities in lab classes                 2 hours
Readings                                                 3 hours
Contact (e-mail, consultation, etc.)       30 minutes
Total                                                        8 hours 30 minutes

Unit relationships

Prerequisites

FIT9027

Prohibitions

IMS2402, MMS2402 (Translation Set: MMS9402)

Relationships

FIT9028 is a core unit in the Master of Multimedia for Art & Design or a General Elective.

Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed FIT9027, or equivalent.

You may NOTstudy this unit and IMS2402, MMS2402, Translation Set: MMS9402, in your degree.

Teaching and learning method

This unit will be delivered via a 2 hour lecture and a 2 hour laboratory class each week.

Lectures will be used to present and explain programming principles and practices within the context of the authoring environment of Flash.

Laboratories will be used for practical experience in the development, coding, testing and debugging of the functions specific to the authoring environment.

Timetable information

For information on timetabling for on-campus classes please refer to MUTTS, http://mutts.monash.edu.au/MUTTS/

Tutorial allocation

On-campus students should register for tutorials/laboratories using the Allocate+ system: http://allocate.cc.monash.edu.au/

Unit Schedule

Week Topic Study guide References/Readings Key dates
1 Overview of the Unit, Overview of Flash Basics, Game Development & Design Principles Assignment Overview & Documentation, Drawing tools and techniques, Appropriate organisation of timeline Green: 1 and 2 Complete Lab tasks
2 Flash Symbols, ActionScript Basics, Navigation & Events Applying interactive affordance in Flash, Navigation working with buttons, Drop Menus, MovieClip behaviour and hierarchy Green: 3 and 4; Shupe: 1, 2 & 5 Complete Lab tasks
3 Flash Animation Basics Animation in Flash Using Tweening Techniques, Motion Guides and Masks Green: 6, 7 & 8 Complete Lab tasks and Submit Portfolio Project - Design Specification Document
4 Using Flash Components, Input and Form Elements Create a basic component-based form, Accept input from components and store in variables Green: 11 Complete Lab tasks and Demonstrate Splash Animation
5 Scripted Animation, MovieClip objects Linking objects to MovieClips, using the Flash Display List feature, conditional programming Shupe: 4, 7, 8, 9 Complete Lab tasks and Demonstrate Options Selections
6 Reading from text and XML files, using variables to track data, random numbers Using externally loaded SWF content, Load data from text and XML files, exploring Flash's built-in random function Green: 13; Shupe: 14 Complete Lab tasks and Submit Navigation / Graphic Portfolio Prototype
7 Flash object oriented design, Introduction to custom classes Planning and creating an external class, Public/private methods and variables Shupe: 3 & 6 Complete Lab tasks and Demonstrate Randomisation
8 Exploring keyboard events, Using Movie Clips to Change States Capturing keyboard events, Moving objects with the keyboard, collision detection Shupe: 3 & 10 Complete lab tasks and Submit On-line Exam
9 Advanced ActionScript Techniques, Arrays, Strings and Saving Data Using arrays, random numbers, text formatting and saving data in context by building simple applications Green: 6; Shupe: 4, 6 & 10 Complete Lab tasks and Demonstrate Selecting Alternate Skin
10 Using Sound Objects and Video in Flash Basic use of externally loaded streaming content (background music and effects), FLV video with Flash Video components Green: 5 & 10; Shupe 11 & 12 Complete Lab tasks
Mid semester break
11 Optimising Flash for Web and CD Publishing Demonstrating using a Pre-loader,Programming Checklist, Debugging and Tweaking Game Code Green 15; Shupe 13 Complete Lab tasks and Demonstrate Music and Sound Effects
12 Publishing Flash Movies - CSS, HTML Additional web publishing techniques Green 6, 12 & 14; Shupe 13 Submit completed Portfolio Project
13 Revision Student Demonstrations    

Unit Resources

Prescribed text(s) and readings

Foundation Flash CS4 for Designers
By Tom Green, David Stiller
Friends of Ed (2009)
ISBN-10: 1-4302-1093-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-4302-1093-1

Learning ActionScript 3.0 - A Beginner's Guide
By Rich Shupe with Zevan Rosser
O'Reilly (2008)
ISBN-10: 0-596-52787-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-596-52787-7

See also: "Recommended Reading" below for a list of recommended references

Text books are available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.

Recommended text(s) and readings

Flash 8 Projects for Learning Animation and Interactivity by Rich Shupe & Robert Hoekman, Jr. Publisher: O'Reilly (2006) ISBN: 0-596-10223-2

Object-Oriented ActionScript for Flash 8 By Peter Elst & Todd Yard Publisher: Friends of ED (2006) ISBN: 1590596196

Required software and/or hardware

All software required for use in this unit can be accessed from allocated campus laboraties/tutorial rooms.

The software used in this unit consists of:

  • Adobe Flash CS4 Professional
  • Adobe Photoshop CS4
  • Adobe Illustrator CS4

30 Day Trial/Evaluation versions of the named software can be dowloaded for personal use if neccessary from the following websites:

  •  http://www.adobe.com/

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the Faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to n hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

available on the FIT9028 web site on MOODLE. It will host lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements and assignment specifications. In addition, supplementary resources may also be posted.

Assessment

Overview

Examination: 40%
Practical assignments: 60%

Faculty assessment policy

To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

  • 40% or more in the unit's examination, and
  • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment, and
  • an overall unit mark of 50% or more.

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 44% then a mark of no greater than 44-N will be recorded for the unit.

The unit is assessed with one major assignment with 3 project milestones (60%) and a three hour closed book examination (40%). To pass the unit you must:
  • achieve no less than 40% of the possible marks in the exam
  • achieve no less than 40% of the possible total marks for the assignment
  • achieve no less than 50% of possible marks

Assignment tasks

Assignment coversheets

Assignment coversheets are available via "Student Forms" on the Faculty website: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/
You MUST submit a completed coversheet with all assignments, ensuring that the plagiarism declaration section is signed.

Assignment submission and return procedures, and assessment criteria will be specified with each assignment.

  • Assignment task 1
    Title:
    Portfolio Development Project
    Description:
    Students will use skills and techniques covered in the weekly labs to develop a Flash-based Portfolio. It is important that students complete each week's lab activities and implement the techniques used in each activity in their portfolio as relevant skills will be covered during this time.The interface design must give the user multiple ways to access the various content sections. The visual and technical design components must make use of a variety of Flash skills. In addition to any personal portfolio categories, the following pages must be included as a bare minimum:
    • Splash screen introducing your portfolio, etc.
    • About page with details of yourself - qualifications, job aspirations, areas of interest, etc.
    • Contact page including a functional e-mail link 
    • A "gallery" page presenting examples of your work including thumbnails with links to larger images
    It is important that you identify additional information screens immediately because the Portfolio Design Specifications will be required by Week 3 and a complete navigational and graphical prototype will be required by Week 6. This is to ensure that you have an appropriate amount of time to develop and implement the functional aspects of the portfolio, and to assist in time management of the project.

    The functional aspects of your project must demonstrate your skill using different tools and techniques of the Flash authoring environment. They must include the following:
    • Appropriate level of graphic design showing a combination of text and graphics presenting your content on each screen
    • Include at least 2 "skins" for your interface (eg: different colour scheme / background, artistic style, corporate vs artistic, etc.)
    • Demonstrate 3 different ways of navigating through your portfolio (eg: main buttons, branching menus, sliding menu, thumbnails, < and >, etc.)
    • Thumbnails, when clicked, will display larger images as draggable pop-ups (as per week 6)
    • An example of an original short video using the *.flv format (funny home video, past assignment, anything as long as it is original)
    • An example of a short animation (eg: Splash animation)
    • Appropriate use of background music and sound effects
    The Portfolio Design Specification documentation is designed to outline and organise the development process of the project. Appropriate headings are provided as a guide to what you should include in the design specifications for your selected game project. Be aware that part of your final assessment will include how well you develop your project in accordance to what you stipulate in this document. In other words, a small but completed project will score very well as opposed to a large incomplete one!

    The Navigation/GUI Prototype will demonstrate how you have structured your portfolio and show the majority of your interface design. The portfolio components DO NOT have to function for this prototype as dummy data and/or portfolio components can be used to show the overall look-and-feel if the portfolio. The prototype should include a clearly defined internal structure on the time line (as demonstrated in labs), clearly show the main screen elements of the portfolio, and an example of each major screen of the portfolio. [NOTE: the individual screen elements are only there to show their position on the screen and DO NOT have to function at this stage. All that is required is a complete screen layout with appropriate design suited to the portfolio you are developing.]

    The final part of this assessment is the submission of a functional portfolio, developed according to the specification documents submitted in Week 3. There are 5 common components that must also be successfully integrated into the final application. These will also be covered in the weekly lab tasks conducted throughout the semester and will be assessed separately but are an integral part of your final mark. These are the basic functions or features required to make the portfolio have at least an elementary level of interaction. Additionally, you must successfully demonstrate various Flash features including animation, appropriate use of different symbol types, application and use of different types of media (eg: images, audio), and Flash components.

    Weekly tasks will be available to download from MOODLE. It is expected that students will download the materials relevant to each week's activity. Working through each activity will give students an understanding of various techniques and their suggested application, however it will be up the each individual student to determine how to best implement these techniques to best suit their needs.
    Weighting:
    60%
    Due date:
    By 4pm Thursday of the specified week
    Remarks:
    Full details are available in the FIT9028 Unit Outline 09 document that is available for download from the MOODLE site.

Examination

  • Weighting: 40%
    Length: 3 hours
    Type (open/closed book): Closed book
    Remarks:

    The examination has 2 parts:
    1. A ONE hour on-line Exam administered in Week 8 at the beginning of the scheduled Lab including Multiple Choice / True or False / Definitions / Short Answer question formats drawn from the lecture / lab notes (15%)
    2. A TWO hour Scenario Design and Development administered during the normal exam period questions drawn from principles and practices covered in lectures (25%). Examples of these questions formats will be provided in the final lecture and as quizzes on MUSO in Week 13.

See Appendix for End of semester special consideration / deferred exams process.

Due dates and extensions

Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are not regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.

Students requesting an extension for any assessment during semester (eg. Assignments, tests or presentations) are required to submit a Special Consideration application form (in-semester exam/assessment task), along with original copies of supporting documentation, directly to their lecturer within two working days before the assessment submission deadline. Lecturers will provide specific outcomes directly to students via email within 2 working days. The lecturer reserves the right to refuse late applications.

A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.

Refer to the Faculty Special consideration webpage or further details and to access application forms: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html

Late assignment

Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 10% per day (including weekend days).

Assignments received later than one week after the due date will not be accepted for assessment unless prior (alternate) arrangements have been made with the unit Lecturer due to special circumstances.

Return dates

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.

Appendix

Please visit the following URL: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/units/appendix.html for further information about:

  • Continuous improvement
  • Unit evaluations
  • Communication, participation and feedback
  • Library access
  • Monash University Studies Online (MUSO)
  • Plagiarism, cheating and collusion
  • Register of counselling about plagiarism
  • Non-discriminatory language
  • Students with disability
  • End of semester special consideration / deferred exams
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