This is a tentative timetable. It will be updated frequently. Check often!
| Date | Topics | Class Materials | Reminders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ||||
| Thu | 08-27 | overview |  PPT: course overview |
fill out pandemic plan contact info form |
| Lab 01 | install Flash CS4 (Flash 10), Flash workspace, drawing tools | PPT:
lab01
Reading: Digital Media Primer, Section 8.5 |
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| Week 2 | ||||
| Tue | 09-01 | symbol in Flash, master copy vs. instance, naming movieclip instances animation: keyframes, frame-by-frame, tweening |
Symbols in Flash (No PPT; chalkboard lecture) Reading Assignments: Animation Basics (No PPT; chalkboard lecture) Reading Assignments: |
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| Lab 02a | Pen and Subselection tools
Animation Basics: onion skin, insert/remove frames/keyframes, frame-by-frame animation, shape tween, motion tween |
Lab02a instructions and example completed animation
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| Thu | 09-03 | vector graphics vs. bitmap images (deferred to a later date) overview of programming concepts and constructs (part 1) |
programming fundamentals (part 1) (No PPT; chalkboard lecture) Reading: Digital Media Primer Chapter 9
Homework #1:
Syntax Review and Code Writing Exercises Homework #2: |
No quiz this week |
| Lab 02b | mask | Lab02b instructions and example completed animation
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| Week 3 | ||||
| Tue | 09-08 | overview of programming concepts and constructs (part 1)
(continue to finish up with functions and procedures)
variables vs. string literals overview of programming concepts and constructs (part 2) |
Programming fundamentals: No PPTs; chalkboard lecture |
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| Lab 03 | use of trace( ), learn to read syntax error report, locate and fix syntax errors, identify pairing curly braces and parentheses, variables vs. string literals, writing function definitions and function calls | Lab manual
(handout given in class)
Reading: Digital Media Primer: part of Chapter 9 |
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| Thu | 09-10 | movieclip symbols vs. instances
controlling movieclip instances' properties event handlers (part 1: mouse event and frame event) |
No PPTs; chalkboard lecture
Reading: Homework #3:
Syntax Review and Code Writing Exercises |
Homeworks #1 and #2 due in class
No quiz this week |
| Lab | pre-lab for Lab04: frame event and mouse event listener code | No need to turn in the pre-lab. Turn in the completed lab next week. | ||
| Week 4 | ||||
| Tue | 09-15 | event handlers (part 2: keyboard event)
collision detection (built-in hitTestObject( ) and hitTestPoint( ) methods)
generate random numbers work with text in Flash |
keyboard event handling: chalkboard lecture; no PPT
Reading: Digital Media Primer: Chapter 11 Sections 11.5 collision detection: chalkboard lecture; no PPTsReading: Digital Media Primer: Chapter 11 Sections 11.9 Math.random( ) (chalkboard lecture; no PPT) Reading: Digital Media Primer: Chapter 11 (Sections 11.10.1) |
turn in HW #3 in class |
| Lab 04a | Program a Pong game: custom-define function, calling a function, mouse event handler method, frame event handler method, if/else, logical operator, hitTestObject( ), dynamic text | Pong game: - how the completed and in-progress files work - extra credits |
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| Thu | 09-17 | vector graphics and bitmap images (postponed) | Reading for vector graphics and bitmap images: Digital Media Primer, Chapter 2 sections 2.3 and 2.4 Mini-project #2: Fun with Events (This is an optional extra credit work which is up to 3% towards final grade) |
No quiz this week (postponed) |
| Lab 04a | Finishing up the Pong game (see links on Sept. 15): add randomness (random increy and random ball's y at reset at right edge), make the ball go at an angle, bounce at the top and bottom edges | |||
| Week 5 | ||||
| Tue | 09-22 | controlling the playhead using gotoAndStop( ) and stop( )
arrays |
PPTs: 1. controlling playhead 2. arrays Reading: Digital Media Primer: Chapter 11 (Sections 11.7.3) |
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| Lab 04b | Interactive hairstyle customization: controlling the playhead using gotoAndStop( ) and stop( ) | hairstyle customization: - instructions & see how the completed file works -  Flash file: see how the movieclips are set up |
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| Thu | 09-24 | loops (part 1): while-loop and for-loop hitTestPoint( ) modeling gravity |
PPT: loops (part 1)
Reading: Digital Media Primer: Chapter 11 (Sections 11.9) PPTs: Homework #4:
Syntax Review and Code Writing Exercises |
No quiz this week (postponed) |
| Lab | Pre-lab 5: start a side-scrolling platform game: - just the movieclips and set them up on stage (no coding) - instructions (handout given in class) - see how the "?" box and stage are set up (Flash file) |
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| Week 6 | ||||
| Tue | 09-29 | Lab04a follow-up: use of function to reduce code duplication | download file for Lab04a follow-up | turn in HW #4 in class
20-min quiz #1 (on programming fundamentals I & II and events); format is similar to HW#1 and HW#3; has code writing |
| Lab 05a | Part 1. Program a continuous scrolling platform game: keyboard event handling, mouse event handling, if/else, modeling gravity, collision detection | |||
| Thu | 10-01 | more on programming concepts and constructs: scope of variables (global, local, and timeline) | PPT: scope of variables
practice exercise for scope of variables (self-test; don't need to turn in) |
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| Lab 05b | Part 2. Prevent the hero from jumping up at mid-air, make the coin and box reappear, make continuous scrolling | instructions (handout given in class)
see how the completed file works |
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| Week 7 | ||||
| Tue | 10-6 | loops (part 2): nested loops | PPT: nested loops | |
| Lab 06a | Lab05 function: organize code using functions, code formatting | |||
| Thu | 10-08 | TEST #1 (Expectations and Practice Questions) | ||
| No lab | ||||
| Week 8 | ||||
| Tue | 10-13 | review of Lab04a Pong, 04b hairstyles, and 05 platform game | ||
| Lab 06b | Tic-Tac-Toe (Part 1) | Flash file to show the stage and symbol setup | ||
| Thu | 10-15 | intro to OOP | supplementary reading on OOP concepts
OOP: chalkboard lecture, no PPT |
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| Lab 06b | Tic-Tac-Toe (Part 2 of Part b): reduce code duplication, add code to check winner | see how the completed Part b works | ||
| Week 9 | ||||
| Tue | 10-20 | OOP review
Assigning a visual representation to objects static |
chalkboard lectures (no PPT): - assigning a visual representation to objects - static |
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| Lab 07 | OOP Pong (Part 1) | |||
| Thu | 10-22 | inheritance | PPT: inheritance | |
| Lab 06b | finish up tic-tac-toe | PPT: finishing up tic-tac-toe | ||
| Week 10 | ||||
| Tue | 10-27 | linear perspective | chalkboard lecture (no PPT) | |
| Lab 08a | 3d fly-through | |||
| Thu | 10-29 | create multiple instantiated objects with a visual representation using array and for-loop
simultaneous key presses |
chalkboard lecture (no PPT)
HW05 (make-up version): Due next Tue |
20-min Quiz #2 on inheritance and visual rep. of multiple objects
Sign up a project meeting time to discuss your project idea |
| Lab 08b | 3d-fly-through | See how the completed file and extra credits work | ||
| Week 11 | ||||
| Tue | 11-03 | access specifiers: public, private, protected, internal
follow-up of Lab08 (focal length, wrapping, tree behind viewer, sortZ(), gravity, friction, what the Tree constructor does) Toggle |
PPTs: - access specifiers - toggle |
There are individual meetings to discuss your project ideas. Check your signup time; don't miss the meeting or points will be deducted from your project grade. |
| Lab 09a | Program #1: toggle | See how the completed files work | ||
| Thu | 11-05 | Shuffle
startDrag( ) and stopDrag( ) controlling masks using Actionscript Timer add mouse event handling in .as file |
PPTs: - shuffle - dragging - setting mask using script - mouse event handler in .as file - timer |
There are individual meetings to discuss your project ideas. Check your signup time; don't miss the meeting or points will be deducted from your project grade. |
| Lab 09b | Program #2: shuffle a list of items, such as a deck of cards
Program #3: drag a mask |
See how the completed files work | ||
| Week 12 | ||||
| Tue | 11-10 | more on programming concepts and constructs: switch statement
timer |
PPTs: - switch statement - timer |
There are individual meetings to discuss your project ideas. Check your signup time; don't miss the meeting or points will be deducted from your project grade. |
| Lab 10a | Start working on your project, based on what we have discussed in the individual meeting. Everyone must create at least one class (must be related to your project), instantiate one or more objects from the class, give the instantiated object a visual representation, write class method(s) and invoke the method(s) to make the object move or change on stage. |
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| Thu | 11-12 | polymorphism
sorting algorithms: selection sort, bubble sort, insertion sort |
PPT: polymorphism
PPTs: Flash files for sorting practices: |
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| Lab 10b | Continue working on your project | Project grading criteria (given out in class; if you lose your copy, you will need to get a copy from other students in the class.) | ||
| Week 13 | ||||
| Tue | 11-17 | coding practices
controlling sound playback using Actionscript snapping to a grid |
PPTs: - coding practices - snapping sound (chalkboard lecture; no PPT) |
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| Lab 11a | Program #1:
sound Program #2: snapping to a grid Program #3: randomize timing using Timer object to program a tortoise and hare race |
See how the completed files work | ||
| Thu | 11-19 | TEST #2 (Expectations and Practice Questions) | Sign up a second project meeting time to discuss the next step of your project | |
| Week 14 | ||||
| Tue | 11-24 | binary notation, binary-decimal conversion, hexadecimal-decimal conversion, representation of information on computers
setting color using ActionScript filters |
PPTs: - binary notation - hexadecimal notation - color representation on computer - color using Actionscript (with lab instructions) PPT: filters (with lab instructions) |
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| Lab 12 | Program #1: Adjust color using ActionScript: hairstyle again, but dye the hair
this time!
Program #2: Glow filter Program #3: Blur filter |
See how the completed files work | Lab 12 is due Tue (Dec. 1) at 6:00pm but the lab is short enough to be completed in lab.
Project version 1 and write-up (tell me about what is remaining to do to finalize your project): Due Mon (Nov. 30) at 6:00pm but I encourage you to turn it in before Monday so I will give you feedback early and you will have more time to finalize your project. |
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| Thu | 11-26 | No class--Thanksgiving holiday | ||
| Week 15 | ||||
| Tue | 12-01 | searching: linear and binary
about project review |
linear and binary search (chalkboard lecutre; no PPT) Flash files for practice predicting the search process:
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| Lab | finish up Lab 12 if you have not finished it | |||
| Thu | 12-03 | Identify programming constructs in other programming languages
vector graphics vs. bitmap images ReviewWrap-up, teaching eval. |
PPTs: - vector graphics vs. bitmap images - review of selected topics Java Example: Pong C++ Example: Battleship |
Due at 11:00pm on Dec.4 (Fri): project and project write-up |
| Lab | ||||
| Thu | 12-10 | Final Exam (2:00pm, Manchester 241) | About final exam | |