CA225 ActionScript for Web Publishing and Gaming

Sample Syllabus (Word document)

Course Description

Intended for Flash content developers who want to improve their skills. This course explores ActionScript techniques for visual interactivity and computer gaming. Four hours lecture each week.  (4 semester hours)

Prerequisites/Corequisites

CA 125 or consent of department.

Goals and/or Objectives

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate how to use the visual programming paradigm in Flash by combining frame scripts with button event scripts that sends the playback head to an alternate web animation.
• Demonstrate how to alter the property of a MovieClip using an ActionScript Property script.
• Demonstrate, in class, how a MovieClip  Property can be used to create a non-timeline based web animation.
• Demonstrate how to animate properties of a MovieClip using the EnterFrame ClipEvent.
• Demonstrate how to designate the value of a MovieClip Property using a variable.
• Demonstrate how to initialize a variable using the ActionScript LoadEvent.
• Demonstrate how to manipulate a variable using the ActionScript MouseDown event.
• Demonstrate how to manipulate a variable using the ActionScript KeyDown event.
• Demonstrate, in class, an example of an interactive Web animation that incorporates either keydown or mousedown ClipEvents to alter the course of an animation, and to provide the user with some control and interactivity during the presentation of the web animation.
• Demonstrate how to manipulate a variable by encapsulating a BUTTON symbol inside a MovieClip and utilizing the “regional” variable characteristics of Flash to alter the events of a clip event animation.
• Demonstrate and understand the Flash technique of creating an invisible button which can be used to accept Flash-button specific events which can trigger other Flash animation events.
• Demonstrate the use of Trace command in order to Debug ActionScript in the Output Editor.
• Demonstrate the process and procedures required in Flash and ActionScript for converting discreet portions of code into functions.
• Demonstrate and understand the process and procedures required in Flash and ActionScript in order to call a function.
• Explain the unique nature and scope of Flash variables including local, global, and regional variables.
• Demonstrate the ability to target an encapsulated MovieClip using ActionScript.
• Demonstrate the use of various ActionScript targeting shortcuts in order to make code more generic and reusable.
• Demonstrate their ability to recognize and perform significant techniques and procedures such as the DuplicateMovieClip command and the LoadMovie command.

Please note that the information provided here is only a guideline and may occasionally be out of date. Official current semester course description language can be found at:

• http://webdb.montgomerycollege.org/Internet/
  courses/SubjectSelect.cfm (current courses)
• http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/curricula/
  descriptions/cdcompapp.htm (current CA certificates and degree programs)
• http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/credit/ (current semester course schedule)