Development tidbits, struggles, revelations, and still some Flash

My last class on “Introduction to Using Video in Flash” went well. I didn’t start pulling together the presentation until last night, but I knew I only had to produce about an hour of content. I had plenty, in fact, I went over. The students looked interested the entire time and I didnt’ see anyone look impatient once I had realized I had taken longer than I thought.

I saw some glossy eyes, particuarly when showing the AS code for using FLV (w/o components), but overall I think it was well received. I had prepared my presentation in PowerPoint thinking that the school would have PowerPoint… what school doesnt have it? Well.. that classroom didn’t. I brought a FlashPaper version of the presentation along just in case, and I am SUPER glad I did.

This was the last class for the beginning Flash class. I think the entire class went very well and I got a lot of people interested for my ActionScript class (starting April 2nd). I expect to see quite a few familiar faces there. I am glad I was able to co-teach with Dianne. It definitely made my intro to teaching at UNLV a lot easier. Dianne says that she, along with other UNLV instructors, are signing up for my ActionScript class. Sounds like it could be a very full class.

My next step is to sign up for the UNLV ColdFusion class. CF is something I have wanted to learn, just haven’t had time. This class will force me to learn it. I think I can even take it for free, if there are free seats, or I can bring my laptop with me.

[FLASH]http://www.yapiodesign.com/images/video_class.swf,450,350[/FLASH]

Saturday morning is the last day of class for the beginning Flash class I am co-teaching. I will be teaching my own ActionScript class in the spring (starts April), but this has been a good introduction into teaching a entire course.

On Saturday, the class will be turning in their final projects. The left over class time will be spent doing some extra stuff not covered by the book. Dianne, the other instructor, has asked me to do a bit on video within Flash. I really haven’t had much call for video in my Flash work, but I have worked with it and this might be something fun for the class.

I figured I would start off going over the basics and then walking them through the Macromedia video intro and then show them some completed video pieces and the ActionScript behind each one. The classroom is only outfitted with FlashMX2004 standard and not professional, so I will need to pre-build some SWFs to take into class.

I’ll blog back after class and let you know how the final projects looked and what the students thought about Flash video.