This is a tentative timetable. It will be updated frequently. Check often!
| Date | Topics | Class Materials | Reminders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ||||
| Wed | 01-13 | overview
Flash workspace, drawing tools install Flash CS4 (Flash 10) |
 PPT: course overview
Flash workspace and drawing tools: |
fill out pandemic plan contact info form |
| Fri | 01-15 | review drawing tools, introduce transform tool and layers
lab |
first-week-of-class questionaires | bring Thinkpad to class and have Flash CS4 (either trial version or the licensed version) installed before class |
| Lab 01 | Flash workspace and drawing tools | PPT:
lab01 instructions (due Wed at 2:00pm)
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| Week 2 | ||||
| Mon | 01-18 | MLK Day -- No class | ||
| Wed | 01-20 | symbol in Flash, master copy vs. instance, naming movieclip instances
animation: keyframes, frame-by-frame, tweening |
Symbols in Flash: --------------- - chalkboard lecture (no PPT) - Reading: Digital Media Primer: Sections 8.5 and 8.6.2 Animation Basics: |
lab01 (2-page handout of lab questions and two files) is due at 2:00pm today |
| Fri | 01-22 | lab | ||
| Lab 02a | Animation Basics: insert/remove frames/keyframes, frame-by-frame animation, shape tween, motion tween | Lab02a instructions and example completed animation
(due Mon at 2:00pm)
|
bring Thinkpad to class | |
| Week 3 | ||||
| Mon | 01-25 | overview of programming concepts and constructs (part 1) | Programming fundamentals (part 1): --------------- - PPT of some basic common terms - programming constructs: chalkboard lecture (no PPT) - Reading: Digital Media Primer Chapter 9
Homework #1:
Syntax Review and Code Writing Exercises Homework #2: |
lab02a (spinning coin file) is due at 2:00pm today |
| Lab 02b | mask | Lab02b instructions and example completed animation
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| Wed | 01-27 | variables vs. string literals
overview of programming concepts and constructs (part 2): functions, parameters, return a value
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Variables vs. string literals: --------------- - PPT
Programming fundamentals (part 2):
Optional Extra Credit: Mini-Project 1: Longer Animation Sequence |
lab02b (bird flying and x-ray mask files) is due at 2:00pm today
No quiz this week |
| Fri | 01-29 | overview of programming concepts and constructs (part 2b) cont'd: functions vs. procedures, parameters vs. arguments, if statements, if/else, if/else if
where do scripts go and script errors trace() statements |
Where do scripts go, script errors, and trace() statements: --------------- - chalkboard lecture (no PPT) - Reading: Digita Media Primer Section 10.3
Programming fundamentals (part 2b): |
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| Week 4 | ||||
| Mon | 02-01 | comments
movieclip symbols vs. instances controlling movieclip instances' properties event handlers (Part 1: mouse event and frame event) |
Movieclip symbols vs. instances, and controlling movieclip instances' properties: --------------- - PPT- Reading: Digital Media Primer Sections 10.1, 11.7.1-11.7.2 and Table 11.3
Event handling (Part 1): |
Homeworks #1 and #2 due in class |
| Lab 03 | Program a Pong game: frame event and mouse event listener code, 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 (due 2:00 Mon next week; now extended to 2:00 Wed due to cancellation of classes on Fri) - extra credits (due 2:00 Wed next week) |
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| Wed | 02-03 | collision detection (Part 1: built-in hitTestObject( ))
generate random numbers work with text in Flash how to make the Pong ball go at an angle and bounce at top and bottom edges |
Collision detection (Part 1): --------------- - chalkboard lecture (no PPT) - Reading: Digital Media Primer: Section 11.9
Generate random numbers:
Work with text in Flash:
Make the Pong ball go at an angle and bounce at top and bottom edges
Homework #3:
Syntax Review and Code Writing Exercises on Events |
Homeworks #1 and #2 due in class |
| Fri | 02-05 | lab03 cont'd: finishing up Pong game
(Classes cancelled due to weather) |
Finishing up the Pong game (see links on Monday): 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, keep scores | bring your Thinkpad to class |
| Week 5 | ||||
| Mon | 02-08 | review of mouse and frame event handling
event handlers (part 2: keyboard event) controlling the playhead using play( ), stop( ), gotoAndStop( ) and gotoAndPlay( ) use of function to reduce code duplication in the Pong game lab |
keyboard event handling: --------------- - chalkboard lecture; no PPT - Reading: Digital Media Primer: Chapter 11 Sections 11.5 controlling playhead: |
Due: Lab03 Pong game (extended to 2:00 Wed because Fri classes were cancelled due to weather) |
| Lab 04 | 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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| Wed | 02-10 | hitTestPoint( ) | hitTestPoint( ): ------------- - chalkboard lecture (no PPT) - review questions PPT- Reading: Digital Media Primer: Chapter 11 (Sections 11.9)
Optional Extra Credit: Mini-project #2: Fun with Events: |
Due at 2:00: (i) Lab03 Pong game and the Extra Credits; (ii) Lab04 hairstyle lab
Quiz #1 (20 min.) on programming fundamentals (parts 1 & 2) and events; Questions similar to homeworks #1 to #3 |
| Fri | 02-12 | modeling gravity | modeling gravity: ------------- - PPT
Homework #4:
Syntax Review and Code Writing Exercises Pre-lab 5: start a side-scrolling platform game: |
HW #3 due in class |
| Week 6 | ||||
| Mon | 02-15 | arrays
loops (while-loop and for-loop) review: modeling gravity, registration point, hit test |
arrays: ------------- - PPT
loops: |
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| Lab 05a | Part 1. Program a continuous scrolling platform game: keyboard event handling, mouse event handling, if/else, modeling gravity, collision detection, make continuous scrolling | see how the completed file works | Due at 2:00: Pre-lab 5
Due at 6:00: Lab05a (today's lab) |
|
| Wed | 02-17 | review: generate random numbers, stage coordinates
Part 2. Prevent the hero from jumping up at mid-air, collision detection between the hero and the items (coin and box), and make the coin and box reappear Lab05 function: organize code using functions; code formatting |
explanation of the code for recycling the coin | HW #4 due in class |
| Fri | 02-19 | Due at 4:00pm: completed Lab05 | ||
| Week 7 | ||||
| Mon | 02-22 | TEST #1 (Expectations and Practice Questions) | ||
| No lab | ||||
| Wed | 02-24 | scope of variables (global, local, and timeline)
loops (part 2): nested loops |
scope of variables: --------------- - PPT- practice exercise for scope of variables (self-test; don't need to turn in) PPT
nested loops: |
Due: optional extra credit mini-project #2 |
| Fri | 02-26 | intro to OOP | Pre-lab 6: start a tic-tac-toe game: - due: 2:00 Monday - instructions PPT - Flash file: download the Flash file to see how the cell and stage are set up- see how the completed pre-lab file should play OOP: |
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| Week 8 | ||||
| Mon | 03-01 | review of Lab03 Pong, 04 hairstyles, and 05 platform game | Due at 2:00: Pre-lab 6 | |
| Lab 06 | Tic-Tac-Toe | see how the completed Lab06 and extra credit work
lab handout (given out in class; as lab instruction, this is more useful than the PPT)
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Lab06 due at 4:00 Fri | |
| Wed | 03-03 | intro to OOP (cont'd)
Assigning a visual representation to objects |
assigning a visual representation to objects: -------------- - PPT |
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| Fri | 03-05 | Lab06 cont'd | Lab06 due at 4:00 today | |
| Spring Break Week | ||||
| Mon | 03-08 | Spring Break -- No class | ||
| Wed | 03-10 | Spring Break -- No class | ||
| Fri | 03-12 | Spring Break -- No class | ||
| Week 9 | ||||
| Mon | 03-15 | Assigning a visual representation to objects (cont'd)
static |
static: -------------- - PPT |
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| Lab 07 | OOP Pong | - lab instruction given in class - this lab is due 2:00 Wed - see how the completed file plays |
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| Wed | 03-17 | inheritance
in-class code-writing exercises on OOP basics and inheritance |
inheritance: --------------- - PPT
Homework #5:
Syntax Review and Code Writing Exercises for OOP |
Lab07 due at 2:00 today |
| Fri | 03-19 | super
create multiple instantiated objects with a visual representation using array and for-loop |
super: --------------- - PPT
multiple objects using array and for-loop:
Pre-lab 8: start a 3d fly-through game: |
HW#5 due in class today
25-min Quiz #2 on OOP basics, inheritance and visual rep. of instantiated objects; very similar to HW#5 |
| Week 10 | ||||
| Mon | 03-22 | linear perspective
simultaneous key presses |
linear perspective: --------------- - no PPT
simultaneous keypresses: |
Pre-lab08 is due today at 2:00. |
| Lab 08 | 3d fly-through | - lab instruction given in class - this lab is due 9:30 tonight - the extra credits are due 11:55pm tomorrow night (Tue) - see how the completed file and extra credits play |
Lab08 is due tonight at 9:30 | |
| Wed | 03-24 | about term project
follow-up of Lab08 (focal length, wrapping, tree behind viewer, sortZ( ), gravity, friction, what the Tree constructor does) |
Sign up a project meeting time to discuss your project idea | |
| Fri | 03-26 | continue: follow-up of Lab08 (focal length, wrapping, tree behind viewer, sortZ(), gravity, friction, what the Tree constructor does)
late work policy |
late work policy
PPTs: |
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| Week 11 | ||||
| Mon | 03-29 | access specifiers: public, private, protected, internal
toggle shuffle startDrag( ) and stopDrag( ) controlling masks using ActionScript |
PPTs: - access specifiers - toggle - shuffle - simple dragging - setting mask using script |
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 09 | Program #1: toggle
Program #2: shuffle a list of items, such as a deck of cards Program #3: drag a mask |
See how the completed files work | Lab09 is due today at 4:30pm | |
| Wed | 03-31 | polymorphism
add mouse event listener code in .as file |
PPTs: - polymorphism - add mouse event listener code in .as file |
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. |
| Fri | 04-02 | Good Friday -- No class | ||
| Week 12 | ||||
| Mon | 04-05 | switch statement
good coding practices |
PPTs: - switch statement - coding practices - about projects |
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 10 | 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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Lab10 is due today at 4:30pm | |
| Wed | 04-07 | swapping two variables
controlling sound playback using Actionscript tiling |
swap two variables (chalkboard lecture; no PPT) | |
| Fri | 04-09 | Lab 11a Program #1: sound Program #2: tiling |
See how the completed files work | Lab11a is due today at 4:00pm |
| Week 13 | ||||
| Mon | 04-12 | TEST #2 (Expectations and Practice Questions) | ||
| No lab today | ||||
| Wed | 04-14 | Timer
snapping to a grid Lab11b: |
PPTs: - timer - snapping |
Lab11b is due Friday at 2:00pm |
| Fri | 04-16 | go over Test #2 and Lab10 | Sign up a project meeting time to discuss the next step of your project | |
| Week 14 | ||||
| Mon | 04-19 | hexadecimal-decimal conversion, representation of information on computers
setting color using ActionScript filters |
PPTs: - hexadecimal notation - color representation on computer - color using Actionscript (with lab instructions) - filters (with lab instructions) |
if needed: sign-up for 30-minute meeting for project help |
| 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 today at 5:30pm | |
| Wed | 04-21 | vector graphics vs. bitmap images | PPT: vector graphics vs. bitmap images | |
| Fri | 04-23 | binary notation, binary-decimal conversion | PPT: binary notation | |
| Week 15 | ||||
| Mon | 04-26 | sorting algorithms: selection sort, bubble sort, insertion sort
searching: linear and binary |
PPTs: - selection sort - bubble sort - insertion sort Flash files for sorting practices: linear and binary search (chalkboard lecutre; no PPT) Flash files for practice predicting the search process:
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if needed: sign-up for 15-minute meeting for last-minute project help |
| Lab | Identify programming constructs in other programming languages
demos (motion tracking, computer vision) |
Java Example: Pong
C++ Example: Battleship Objective C and iPhone SDK |
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| Wed | 04-28 | no class, but you are welcome to drop by my office if you have questions on the lecture materials | Due at 11:00pm today: upload to Blackboard all project files and an optional project write-up (which includes a brief instruction of how to play your game, technical information regarding the programming challenges you have attempted, and any technical information I should know about that may help your project grade) | |
| Fri | 04-30 | Final Exam (9:00am, Manchester 241) | About final exam | |