This course has been designed to help you become more confident to use the Flash authoring tool.
Please note this course is still being constructed - some resources still need to be created.
It contains animated guides and tutorials showing you how to use the basic Flash interface, then teach yourself tweening, then explore some more complex developments before finally creating your own Flash racing game.
Brilliant? Perhaps. Flash? Most certainly.
Credits: This course has been developed by teachers at Neale-Wade Community College, especially Debbie Spilsbury, Sajid Patel and Andrew Field. These resources have been created in-house, partly based on those developed for teacher training at EffectiveICT.co.uk. The Car Racing game lessons are adapted from the fantastic guide created by GameSheep.
Note: These lessons show you how to use Flash CS3 but the techniques all work in recent versions (both Flash 8 and CS4). Your screen may look slightly different, but just experiment and you'll soon find the solution!
1
Introduction to the Flash environment
First lesson that gets you to experiment with Flash and the main tools that you can use for basic drawing.
You learn about the selection tools, drawing tools and how to add colours.
Task 1 - load the Flash interface document below. Load Flash and click on 'New Flash document'. Then try to draw your name on the screen - try to work out which features of Flash can help.
Task 2 - Check your understanding. Complete the quiz and then complete the worksheet taks - label the interface correctly and then match up the definitions.
A key part of Flash - building up images and animations using different layers. Here you try to build a digital house - but whatever you end up doing you should learn about layers!
You learn about layers, showing, hiding, locking and why this is so useful.
Developing drawing skills on so you can create animations - making your name merge into a ball and then moving things the page around.
You learn about frames, keyframes, tweening and shape tweening
4
Animation - motion tweens
Extending your knowledge about tweening - you create your first symbols and make these move - experimenting how symbols provide much greater control over your Flash movies.
You learn about symbols, motion tweens, easing and a few other quality tips!
5
Dragging and Dropping
A chance to delve further into ActionScript. Create your own activity where you allow the end user to pick objects up, move them around and then drop them elsewhere. Sounds easy? Ask Mr Potato Head first!
You learn about even more ActionScript, mouse actions, dragging, dropping and Mr Potato Head.
A chance to delve into ActionScript, the real power behind Flash. All you have to do is import a picture, draw a spotlight and then add the script - hey presto your own mouse-controlled spotlight.
You learn about ActionScript, importing graphics, the actions panel and the Simpsons.
7
Creating a slideshow
A really useful tool - in this lesson you learn how to create a slideshow. This could just be a series of images, but it could also be used to create a basic website with links across the top. Some basic skills that can be used in an in-depth way.
You learn about naming, buttons, further ActionScript and how basic concepts can be extended much further.
8
Creating a random quiz
Discovering how some ActionScript can change your activity every time it is used - this lesson helps you create your own random multi-choice quiz.
You learn about randomisation, arrays and how to use both.
9
Car racing game part 1
The final activity - and the one where we can judge your Flash skills. In four parts, you have to create your own car racing game. In this lesson you revise drawing skills, layers and symbols.
You revise layers, locking, unlocking, naming and show off your drawing skills.
In this lesson you have to create your track - again you have to put your drawing skills into practice, but you also have to fiddle with layers and start to explore some rather complex coding!
You revise symbols, layers, drawing and learn how to work in quite a complex environment.
Teach yourself Flash.
