STATE UNIVERSITY of NEW YORK (SUNY) Potsdam
Instructional Technology and Media Management
ITED 621 - Multimedia Authoring and Scripting
- Course Syllabus -
Anthony Betrus: Instructor
Fall 2007

Credit: Three semester hours

Time: 5:30-8:45 PM Tuesday through November 21

Location: Satterlee 300

Catalog Description: The goal of this course is to help students acquire a working knowledge of the Macromedia Flash authoring environment. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the problem solving skills associated with production relating to business and/or educational products reflecting a client's needs. Intermediate level - not an introductory course. Prerequisite: permission of the ICT department.

Required Textbooks: (Note: Both textbooks are free from SUNY Potsdam's Books 24x7 (go to: http://www.potsdam.edu/library/Databases_all.php and click on books 24x7. Input "Flash" in the search field, and you will find both texts as the 2nd and 3rd items).

1) Macromedia Flash 8 Bible by Robert Reinhardt and Snow Dowd John Wiley & Sons 2006 (1322 pages) ISBN:0471746762

2) Flash 8 ActionScript Bible by Joey Lott and Robert Reinhardt John Wiley & Sons 2006 (864 pages) ISBN:9780471771975

Required Software: Adobe Flash 8 or greater. Recomemended purchase location: http://www.ubmicro.buffalo.edu

Recommended for Tech Educator and Ed Tech Specialist: Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium ($319.95). Includes: In-Design, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, Acrobat Professional.

Recommended for Information Technology: Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection: EVERYTHING ($499.95)

Requirements:

Homework: There will be 3 homework assignments for this course.
Each activity provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the material covered in class.  The first project will emphasize presentation of material, the second will focus on interaction with the user, and the third will involve more sophisticated scripting. Requirements for individual assignments will be given in class.

Final Project: Students will negotiate a topic for the instructional project, which should incorporate skills learned from the first 3 assignments.The materials to be completed for the instructional project include needed multimedia elements, a description of the target audience, a storyboard, and a timeline for completion.

Attendance: Daily attendance is required of all students.

Digital Storage: Each Student must have at least a 1gb USB Flash Drive

Plagiarism: This course adheres to the College's policy on academic honesty as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Plagiarism may lead to grade reduction, course failure, or expulsion from school.

Students with disabilities: Any student with a disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations should speak with the professor as early as possible. Students with disabilities should also contact: Sharon House, Coordinator of Accommodative Services at 267-3267, Sisson 112, or e-mail her at housese@potsdam.edu for further assistance. All disclosures will remain confidential.

Course Schedule: (subject to change as needed)
 
Date: Topic:
8/28 Course Introduction/Overview. Examples of Interactive Multimedia Projects. Terminology/Overview of authoring tools: Flash, Director, PowerPoint, Authorware, Quicktime.
9/4 Designing Multimedia: Choosing an appropriate topic, designing gierarchical branching structures, and navigation. Using buttons, text fields and graphics, scanning. Card Animation.
9/11 [Assignment #1 Due: Presentation Project] Presentations and discussion in class. (Flash Essential Training through folder 4). Concept for your 2nd project cleared with instructor via e-mail. Multimedia "gathering" (files sorted on a usb drive, including sounds, graphics, movies)
9/18 Action Script 2.0, Basic Interactivity
9/25 Class time used to work on Assignment #2. 2nd round of presentation projects presented today.[Storyboards due]
10/2 [Assignment #2 Due: Interactive Project]
Presentations and discussion in class.Action Script 2.0, Advanced Interactivity
10/9 No Class: Columbus Day Break
10/16

Introduction to Action Scripting. Project 3 concepts to be submitted to instructor for approvalby 10/22/07. It is suggested that Project #3 be conceived of and developed with the intention of including it as part of the final project.

10/23 Class Time used to work on Project #3.
10/30 [Assignment #3 Due: Simple ActionScripted Game]
Topic for final project to be decided by today.
Presentations and discussion in class.
Storyboards Assigned
11/6

Class time used to work on Final Project
Projects will be placed in students' helios web folders
Students will conduct usability testing on the other students' projects

11/13 Class time used to work on Final Project (Capturing and Editing Sound)
11/20 [Student Presentations of Instructional Projects]

Grading:
Homework: [3 x 50 points each]150 points
Instructional Project 150 points
TOTAL: 300 points

270-300 points 4.0
255-269 points 3.5
240-254 points 3.0
225-239 points 2.5
210-224 points 2.0
195-209 points 1.5
180-194 points 1.0

Office Information:
E-mail: betrusak@potsdam.edu
Office: Dunn Hall 393
Phone: (315) 267-2670
Office Hours: Tu, W4:30-5:30 or by appointment.

Messenger Contacts (USE TRILLIAN)

Flash Resources:
http://www.flashkit.com
http://www.developingwebs.com
http://www.sitepoint.com/subcat/flash

This page created August 28, 2007. Last updated October 16, 2007