AIM (Animation, Interaction, Multimedia) Your Projects with Flash: Flash Approaches

Course Information Syllabus Calendar Requirements CourseQuest Workshop Course Resources Exploration Projects Applications Approaches Evaluation Basics Animation Interaction Multimedia Planning Issues Packaging		Flash Approaches Whether designing an entertaining splash page or a sophisticated simulation, many options are available for information focus, organization and presentation. This page explores some of the techniques that can be applied. Use the following links to access the approaches highlighted on this page. Information Focus Information Organization Information Presentation Try It! Explore Conservation Central (Smithsonian's National Zoo), African Voices (Smithsonian National Museum of American History), and Within These Walls (Smithsonian National Museum of American History). Examine the Flash activities and find the animation, interaction, and multimedia elements. Can you identify the purpose or focus of the project? How are the informational elements organized? How is information presented on the screen? Are interactive text, illustrations, maps, slideshows, timelines, or tools incorporated into the project? Is the project easy to use? Are adequate directions and help provided?
		Information Focus It's helpful if you have a focus for your information. Some projects examine a concrete topic while others are more abstract. Projects may focus on one idea in-depth, a range of ideas, a process, or some combination of ideas. Here are some ideas: Action Focus Artifact Focus Art and Architecture Focus Autobiographical Focus Custom Focus Document Focus Event or Experience Focus Issue Focus Life Focus Literature Focus Myth and Misconceptions Focus News and Information Focus Person or People Focus Place Focus Quote Focus Song Focus Symbols, Signs, and Marker Focus Theory Focus Value Focus Word Focus For specific examples and topic ideas, go to escrapbooking
		Try It! Examine the following Flash projects: Einstein's Big Idea, Nathaniel Hawthorne, San Francisco Symphony, Name that Bug, Women of Our Time, and Kids Collecting. What's their informational focus? Can you think of other topics that could be explored using this focus? Return to Top
		Information Organization Data is unlikely to be used effectively unless it is presented in a way that users can understand. Experts are able to see patterns in data and make connections with existing information. When designing Flash projects, consider the needs and interests of your audience. It's likely that they are not experts. As such, you'll need to organize information in a way to their facilitate critical and creative thinking about your topic. Consider the following approaches that can be taken to information organization. Within a single Flash project, you may use many of these approaches. Alphabetical Analogy Cause/Effect Change Chronology Comparison - then/now; before/after; if/then Connection Criticism Debate Geographical or Regional Hierarchy In-depth Inquiry Linkages - show metacognitive processes Movement Mystery Perspectives Prediction Procedure - steps Process - cycles Product Reflection Storytelling Relationships - characters in book, historical figures, family members Thematic - historical, literature genre, topic Trace or Track Wonder For additional ideas, go to escrapbooking. Try It! Compare the different techniques used in each of the following Anatomy of... projects. Anatomy of the Concorde Anatomy of a Croc Anatomy of a Firework Anatomy of a Glacier Anatomy of a Jetliner Anatomy of Katrina Anatomy of Nyiragongo Anatomy of Photo 50 Anatomy of a Rover Anatomy of Yamato Return to Top
		Information Presentation Elements most often incorporated in Flash projects include animation, interaction, and multimedia. These elements can be applied in different ways to create interesting, informative projects. Use the following links on this page to explore ways that animation, interaction, and multimedia elements can be used to build effective information presentations: AIM (Animation, Interaction, Multimedia) Text AIM Illustrations AIM Maps AIM Slide Shows AIM Timelines AIM Tools Return to Top
		AIM Text Although most often associated with glitzy visuals, Flash is also useful for text-rich projects. One of the advantages of using Flash rather than other tools is the ability to control the font types and styles viewed by the end user. Some well-known examples include children's electronic books and interactive glossaries. Ideas include: Digital Storytelling Electronic books Hypertext Living books/interactive books Language choices (English/Spanish) for ebooks Pop-up glossary Interactive glossary Data collection and sharing - polls, surveys, Q&A Try It! Explore Flash projects containing text: CBeebies Stories, A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans & the US Constitution, Ancient Refuge in the Holy Land, Newton's Dark Secrets, and HiLite Online. What elements such as sound, photos, and interactive features can facilitate reading in a Flash environment? Return to Top
		AIM Illustrations Many of the most popular Flash projects rely heavily on graphics including charts and graphics, concept maps, line drawings, scanned documents, and photographs. Animated, interative illustrations often show processes and relationships. Ideas include: Analogy - beehive to show corporate organization, hospital to show library offerings, zoo to show parts of the school Anatomy of... - type of transportation; cell structure; uniform; layers of rainforest, earth Collage Comparison Concept map - character relationships in book Cycle - life, water, rock How Stuff Works - circuits, electricity Lab experiment simulations Mural Process - inquiry, science, photosynthesis, art color mixing, erosion, gene mutations , meandering river Sketchbook Trajectories in time and space Visualize motion, vocabulary, math (angles and geometry; symmetry) Try It! Explore ways that illustrations are used in Flash projects. Compare the way visuals are used in each of the following projects. How do other features such as audio and interactivity add to the experience? How Caves Form Resonance in Strings My Journey Home Sense of Scale How the Body Works Volcano Under the City Return to Top
		AIM Maps Animated, interactive maps are common Flash applications. They allow users to explore a visual, make choices, and read information. Ideas include: Changes and Predictions - growth of urban and rural areas, Mississippi River predicted path, hurricane's path, endangered animals Locations - countries, governments, natural resources, land forms, biomes, axis/allies WWII Movement of plague, people, animals, glaciers, volcano, hurricane, tornado, migration patterns, troop movement in Civil War, travel logs Try It! Explore examples that incorporate maps. America on the Move Anatomy of Nyiragongo Biodiversity Spectrum of Life: Cladogram Dogs Around the World Exploration Map Explore the Scablands Horatio's Drive Imaging with Radar Mapping Attitudes: Correct English Mystery of a Megaflood Theban Mapping Project Viking Deception: A Map in Question War in Iraq Notice how the maps are presented. Create a list of the many ways that users interact and use the maps in each project. Return to Top
		AIM Slide Show Slide shows are one of the most common presentation formats. They may incorporate illustrations, photos, maps, timelines, or other elements. Users are presented with a series of buttons, options, or navigation arrows to explore information. Try It! Explore examples that incorporate slide shows. Build a Rice Patty Deciphering Buddha Imagery Glacier Lodges, Canyon Tour, Pacific Tour, Grand Lodges Gallery of Auroras Pillars of Creation A Sense of Scale Smashing Pictures Compare the methods used for navigation in the different slide shows. Also compare the placement of visual elements on the screen. Return to Top
		AIM Timelines Timelines are used across content areas to help users visualize the history of a topic. Ideas include: Short Term - day-in-the-life, diet diary, disasters (earthquake, tsunami, tornado, hurricane, blizzard, famine, disease) Years - personal history, geneaology, movement (Civil Rights), events (transcontinental railroad, construction) Centuries/Eras - topical histories (wars, fashion), dinosaurs Topics - books, reports Try It! Explore examples of timelines in Flash projects. A Brush with History Caravan Kingdoms Hip Hop Timeline How Is Sex Determined? On Time Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance Military Medicine through Time MFPPL Whistler Interactive Brainstorm different visual techniques to express timelines. Return to Top
		AIM Tools Flash can be used to create a variety of utilities, calculators, and other tools. These resources are often used as part of a larger tutorial or simulation environment. Ideas include: Calculator - cost of insurance, buying a house, owning a car, budgeting, buying carpet Palette - art tools, music composition tools, writing tools, construction tools Simulator - piece of equipment, (thermometer, micrometer, cash register, DVD player), environment (weather, classroom, sports setting) Try It! Explore how tools are incorporated into Flash projects. Artist's Toolkit Build Your Own Snowboard Create a Sculpture Design a Parachute The Drake Equation Forces Lab Let's Make a Microbe Loads Lab Infinite Secrets: Pi Making Vaccines Materials Lab Read Write Think Student Materials Room Planner Thumb Piano Tunes Invention at Play: Cloud Dreamer, Puzzle Blocks, Tinker Ball, Word Play Are the tools easy to use? Are the directions clear? Is there a way to save or print the results? How does the tool contribute to the goal of the Flash project? How would you redesign or modify the tool so it is more effective? Return to Top