FIT1035 Digital media authoring - Semester 2, 2014

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.

Mode of Delivery

• Caulfield (Day)
• Malaysia (Day)
• South Africa (Day)

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

• One 3-hour tutorial
• One 1-hour seminar

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

• A minimum of 8 hours of personal study per week for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

MMS2402, FIT2012, FIT9028

Prerequisites

FIT1002 or FIT1040

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Tutors

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

The lectures are still a "bone of contention" with the students, with attendance being less than ideal. So, in consultation with the other lecturers delivering this unit, the previous version of the lectures have been removed and a new interactive approach has been implemented. In the lecture, students engage with interactive activities to consolidate the weekly concepts/topic covered working through collaborative discussion and practical examples, before attending the labs. In the labs, the application of these concepts is easier when working through the practical and project-related material.

The most common theme in previous student feedback indicated that many enjoyed the assessment tasks - particularly being given the creative freedom to explore the features of Flash. The unit focuses on using practical activities both in the lecture and in the tutorials to help students understand complex programming principles and practices before working them into their assignments.

Student feedback has also informed improvements to this unit including ensuring a better balance between the design and development aspects of producing a complete interactive/multimedia application. The assignments have been redesigned in order to be better aligned with the concepts taught.

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

• identify and apply the formal processes undertaken for preparing and documenting the design specification and prototype development stages of a multimedia application;
• construct a functional interactive project given a specific brief using a graphical authoring environment (eg: Adobe Flash CS6);
• identify, design and develop appropriate assets for the creation of a functional user interface using an appropriate navigational structure;
• execute a range of special effects which are commonly required for interactive design in multimedia applications (eg: animation, visual and audio feedback, etc.);
• demonstrate intermediate programming techniques using the required authoring language (eg: ActionScript 3.0) using an object-oriented approach to programming development;
• identify and interpret the nature of technical issues that are encountered during the development and testing of a multimedia application;
• modify or adapt learned programming techniques to extend these skills across multiple languages.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Teaching Approach

• Problem-based learning
  This teaching approach allows students to develop practical solutions to problem- or case-based scenarios, in which students are encouraged to take responsibility for organising and directing their learning with support from their tutors and peers.
• Seminars
  This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated discussion of concepts and issues raised by the students during the tutorial/lab session.

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 40%; In-semester assessment: 60%

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

Students are expected to participate in and contribute to the discussion and activities conducted in at least 80% of the weekly seminars. These activities are designed to help you understand the various aspects covered in the unit and will help you successfully complete your assignment tasks.

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Flash Development Project

  Description:

  The practical project will be developed using the Flash CS5+ authoring environment. The development of this project will be over the semester with 3 major development milestones – the Interface Design Specification Document, a Navigation and GUI Prototype with a Development Strategies document and the Final Project. Full details are available in the individual Project Brief documents available on Moodle.
  
  The Project Interface Design Specification documentation is designed to outline the interface and interactive design of the project. Part of your final assessment will include how well you develop your project in accordance to what you stipulate in this document.
  
  The Navigation/GUI Prototype will demonstrate how you have structured your project and show the majority of your interface design. The prototype should include a clearly defined internal structure on the time line (as demonstrated in tutorials), clearly show the main screen elements of the project, and an example of each major screen of the project. The Development Strategies document should outline how you plan to develop your project including a breakdown of each screen and the assets required.
  
  The Completed Functional Project, developed according to the project specification documents submitted in Week 4. Each scenario requires that you successfully integrate the 2 or more project enhancements as described under the individual project scenarios.

  Weighting:

  60%

  Criteria for assessment:

  The practical game project will be developed in the Flash CS5+ authoring environment and worth 60% of the final grade. The marks for the assigned game development project are as follows:

  Project Design (25%)

  10%      Interface Design Specification Document submitted in Week 4.The criteria for this component will include:

  • structuring the specification document correctly covering the required sections
  • well-designed storyboards including appropriate notes for development

  15%      Navigation/Graphic Prototype with Splash Animation and Class Diagrams submitted in Week 8. The criteria for this component will include:

  • demonstration of an appropriate navigation structure for the project with the navigational elements
  • a completed “splash” animation demonstrating various animation techiques
  • appropriate interface design and theme development including the overall look-and-feel of the project's graphics/interface
  • documentation that includes class diagrams and an outline of the approach intended when developing the project 

  Project Implementation (35%)

  20%     Successful completition of in-class project related tasks to be demonstrated during Weeks 2-11 in scheduled labs

  15%     Successful integration of selected scenario enhancements submitted in Weeks 12.The criteria for this component will include:

  • a fully functional Flash movie structure using appropriate timeline structures
  • the project working without error demonstrating logical and efficient coding with all extraneous code eliminated
  • the use of both document and custom classes, demonstrating the appropriate integration of 3 or more types of interaction using a variety of Flash features
  • the quality of the project solutions including the effective use of classes, functions, decisions, loops, arrays and object-oriented principles
  • the appropriate application of good programming practices including the use of commenting, appropriate naming conventions, meaningful variable and function names, code re-usability, etc.
  • all internal and external assets must be organised in a logical structure demonstrating project organisation skills

  Due date:

  By 4pm Friday of the specified weeks 4, 8 and 12. Demonstrated tasks during Weeks 2-11 in scheduled labs.

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  40%

  Length:

  3 hours

  Type (open/closed book):

  Closed book

  Hurdle requirements:

  Students must achieve at least 40% in the examination.

  Electronic devices allowed in the exam:

  None

  Remarks:

  The examination has 3 parts:

  1. Various Multiple Choice / Definitions / Short Answer question formats drawn from textbooks, lecture / lab notes (36% of total)
  2. Code Sequencing / Fill in the Blanks / Pseudo-code / Coding question formats scenarios drawn from lab demonstrations and discussions (40% of total)
  3. Scenario Design and Development questions drawn from principles and practices covered in lectures (24% of total)

  Examples of these question formats will be provided in the final lecture in Week 12 and as quizzes on the designated learning system throughout the semester.

Learning resources

Feedback to you

• Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
• Graded assignments with comments
• Quiz results
• Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Required Resources

The software used in this unit consists of:

• Adobe Flash CS5+ Professional (version CS6 in in the Labs)
• Adobe Photoshop CS5+
• Adobe Illustrator CS5+

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

• http://www.adobe.com/  

Student-priced full versions of the software can also be purchased through:

• http://www.edsoft.com.au (Flash CS6 Professional)
• http://success.adobe-education.com/en/au/students.html (Adobe Creative Cloud subscription)

Recommended Resources

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

Flash CS5.5 The Missing Manual available from http://fbooks.ueuo.com/digital-media/flash-cs5-5-the-missing-manual/

The first 2 books are also in the Library as a limited number of copies are available for borrowing.

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