Project 7

     For our Project#7 we had to create a Flash Portfolio of all the labs and  projects that we have completed with Adobe Flash CS6. We had to create a portfolio of our own taste and had to have 3 pages. One was the home page and the other two were the labs and projects page. We had to link all of the SWF files of our labs to the page that it was supposed to be in. In our home page we had to have a video explaining what we have learned the last two years in our Web Design class. Also explain what each software that we learned about does and how we used them to complete our labs and projects. 

     In this project we used Adobe Flash CS6 to complete our Flash Portfolio. This project was hard at times because there was a lot of repetition that went into it so that you could see all the projects and labs that I have completed in Flash seen through this portfolio. It took a lot of time because it was a long project and if we made one little mistake while not noticing it made the process a lot longer. It took a lot of concentration to complete this project and it was also fun to make because we were able to make our own design. I think if I planned better in the the beginning with my storyboard the outcome of my project would have been better. I was satisfied with the final product of my Flash Portfolio because all the buttons worked and everything was visible. 

Project 6

     For our Project #6 we had to create a video game using Adobe Flash CS6 and we incorporated actionscript to it. We first brainstormed ideas of the type of video game we wanted to create and I chose a car game. We had to make everything about our video game from scratch. The actionscript was confusing at first and it took long to troubleshoot all of the problems but in the end I was satisfied with how the game came out. I feel like I could have done better with adding more sound to it and making the red car more detailed. Also I could have made more levels to it which would make it harder but I was satisfied for it being my first made video game.

      This was a fun and stressful project because we got to add our creativity into it and make the game how we wanted to it. It was a long project because it was the first time we made a video game which seemed impossible at first but more understanding as we started learning how to work with and use Adobe Flash CS6. After completing the project we exported it as a SWF file to insert it into an HTML file. We then uploaded the game to the server so that it can be playable online. 

Lab #27

     The objective of this Lab #27 was to add cue points to the video that we made for Lab#26. We had to have atleast one pop in and one pop out in the video about the software that we were talking about. To do this we had to add cue points of where we wanted the image to pop in and pop out while the video was playing. We used actionscript and code snippets to make the cue points work at the time that we added them. 

This lab was more challenging than 26 because it required more focus with the actionscript because you dont want to make a mistake with it. It was fun learning how to add cue points and make things pop in and pop out while a video was playing. This lab will be helpful in our future project of making our flash portfolio. We now can add different images at different times to our video of our portfolio while its playing.  

Lab #26

     For this Lab #26 we had to put our video of our flash portfolio into a SWF. The objective of this lab was to learn how to import our video and make it a SWF file. To do this we imported the video from the computer by using Adobe Flash CS6 and then changed the background color of the document to make the video stand out. We then put it into a HTML file and uploaded it to the server so it can be viewable online. 

     This lab was very helpful and will be very useful for the future. By completing this lab I now know how to import videos into Adobe Flash CS6 which we will need to know how to do to make our Flash portfolio for project 7. This lab wasnt as challenging as the others because it was only a few steps to follow. Even though it wasnt as hard we still learned something new that will be useful in our future which is very beneficial to making our work the best of our ability.

Lab 25

     The objective for this Lab #25 was to create a maze type game that will send you to two different scenes. We used our knowledge of Lab 24 and we had to make and obstacle for this game. The goal was to get the white square into the blue bigger square in order to win the game. If you go into the two black bars then you will be sent to a screen that tells you that you lost. From both of these scenes you can press a play again button to try again.

    This lab was helpful for the future because I now know how to use action script to go scene to scene. I know how to use more code snippets now that I will be able to use in future labs and projects.  After exporting the file as a SWF we inserted it into an HTML file so that the game would be viewable online. This lab took long to complete because we learned something new so it took time to fully understand it.

Lab 24

     For this Lab #25 we had to make four buttons that we could use to move the blue square. We also had to make the keyboards move the blue square as well. For this lab we had to use actionscript to make these commands work. We used Adobe Flash CS6 to make these functions work and it took a long time to troubleshoot. This lab was challenging because it was one of the first that we used action script to complete.

     This lab will be helpful in the future because now I have more knowledge on how to use action script. Troubleshooting this lab was very hard and stressful but after I understood better. I now have more knowledge on action script and I want to keep learning more about it and how to do more things. I can now use these skills to help me complete future labs and projects.  

Project 5

     For this project #5 the task was to make an interactive story using Adobe Flash CS6. I based my project on two friends that play baseball go to Citi Field to see if One of them can hit his friends pitch. As the pitch is thrown the batter swings and hits a home run out of the park. You then click on him so that he runs around the bases and makes it all the way home. At the end there is a button that allows you to restart the interactive story from the beginning.

     This project #5 was on of the most difficult because we were just introduced to action script so we didn't really know how to use it. It got easier after I got the hang of it but it took a lot of concentration. I think if I would have used my time wiser I could have added more detail but I had problems with the action script so I focused more on that. I know I could have done better with this project with more detail and make the action script more smooth. 

     The tools  used for this project were the shape tools like the rectangle tool, oval tool and line tool. I used these to make the symbols like the pitcher, batter, ball and whole field. I also used the paint bucket tool and paint brush tool to add color to everything. Last, I used the text tool to give a little story about the scenery and to tell the fewer what to do. After completing the project I exported it as a SWF file and put it into a HTML on Adobe Dreamweaver CS6. I then uploaded it to the server and put it into my project index so that it would be viewable online.       

Lab 21

     For this lab #21 the objective was to get a picture of a pencil from the internet and use Adobe Flash CS6 to make an identical one. After that we needed to have a third pencil that was red. We changed the color of it with the proper tie of the pencil and then placed it underneath the one that we made. For this lab I used the shape tool to create the pencil. I also used the paint bucket tool and text tool to make the pencils identical.

     This lab was a little bit easier because I already had experience with using the shape tool and paint bucket tool. Making symbols and putting then together was also a little easier but it was a good practice. After completing the lab in Flash we had to export it as a SWF file. After doing this we had to put it into a webpage and upload it to the server where it would be viewable. We then put it into our online portfolio which has all of our labs and projects that we have completed.  

Lab 23

     For this lab #23 we had to use Adobe Flash CS6 to create a button that would stop and play a bouncing ball. The button that we made had to change to a different color when you hover over it with the mouse. Then when you click the button it changed back to the original color that it was at first. The button was to stop and play the bouncing ball that we created. This lab was challenging because it was the first lab that we incorporated action script into and we just got introduced to it. 

     After restarting a couple of times and with a little of help I was able to finish the lab and understand more about action script. After completing the lab we  had to export the file as a SWF and put it into an HTML page. I added a description of the lab and what the lab was about so that viewers would know what to do when they are at that website.  

Lab 20

     For this Lab #20 we had to add sound to the buttons that we previously had in Lab #19. For this lab we used Adobe Flash CS6 , Dreamweaver CS6 and Garageband for the sound. We had to make each sound about 2-3 seconds so when the viewer clicked the button, a sound would play. Every button had to have a sound and we did this by exporting the sound from Garageband. We had them in a folder and then imported them to our library in Flash. After this we put them in the button keyframe for each symbol and exported this file as a SWF. 

     After doing this we used Dreamweaver CS6 to put out SWF file into an Html page. We added titles and color to our own taste and uploaded it to our online portfolio where it can now be seen. This lab will be helpful in the future because now I know how to incorporate sound into buttons and they all can be different. Also it was helpful in that it gave me more experience in making buttons how I want which I will need for future labs and projects for this class. 

Lab 19

     For this Lab #19 the task was to make all of the graphic symbols that we had into buttons. The buttons had to change when you have the mouse on top of it and when you click it, it is supposed to do an action. For this lab I turned each symbol into a button and I added a keyframe to when you would click the object with the mouse and when you would hover over the object with the mouse. I made the objects bigger when you hover over and I made them turn or move when you click them. 

     After doing this for each of the symbols we had to export the file as a SWF file. Next we had to insert the SWF file into an HTML webpage and upload it to our website. This will be useful for my future because now I know how to create buttons and change them however I want. This will be helpful for future labs and projects.

Lab 18

     For this lab #18 we had to make a mask for an image of our choice then change the image. Fist I imported san image to the stage and resized it so that it fit. Then I used the shape tool and added a oval on top of the image and made it a solid cold.  Then I noticed that I was only able to see that part of the image when I viewed it. After this we added a classic tween and moved it so that you saw more of the image as the scene went on. Last we changed the image on the tenth frame and save it as a SWF file.

     After finishing the lab we had to insert the SWF file into an HTML document and upload it to the server so that it would be viewable online. This will be helpful in my future because I now know how to make masks for images. Im able to make it different shapes with the shape tool and I can animate it using classic tweens. I can now use this in future labs or projects if needed to.

Interview Skills

     I think choice C was a really bad interview because she didn't answer the questions asked correctly. She thought she would be asked multiple choice question in an interview which doesn't happen and she chose choice C when there weren't any choices. This is an example of a bad interview and someone who wasn't prepared. This also shows how important it is to be prepared and know how to communicate with the interviewer if you want the job.

     The second job applicant was well prepared and had good communication skills which helped her throughout the interview. This was important to her getting the job at the end because she made a good first impression to the interviewer. I would want to be like the second job applicant because she knew how to answer questions while being herself. This can go a long way in interviewing for a job and you want to be prepared unlike the first job applicant.

Soft Skills - Professionalism

      There are many ways you can be a professional at whatever you do especially in school. In school you have to be on time to your classes and get your work done. If you see something that has to be done you should do it before being told to. You should dress appropriately so that you show you're serious about school and what you're doing. Learning how to be a professional at a young age is very good and can help you in many ways as you get older in things like interview and communicating with other people in a professional way.

Soft Skills - Communication

       It is important to have good communication skills so that you and the customer know and understand what you are saying. You want to talk clearly and in a respectful manner and you don't want to confuse the client with your words. You also want to impress your employer with communicating skills and this can help in any job. You should also be able to communicate in text so that the reader understands you. Being able to communicate with different type of people is key to an employer and is always a positive aspect so you always want to have good communication skills.

Soft Skills - Teamwork

    Some skills required to work with others as a cohesive team for a common goal is brainstorming ideas on the topic so that the whole team has options and the whole team can talk about the different options. Also you shouldn't take all the credit for the work if you weren't the only one that worked on it. The better teamwork the team has the better the work will come out so teamwork is very important. You never know when you will have to work with other people but if you are good with working with other people and using your ideas together, you won't have a problem with it. That is why having good teamwork and being prepared for it is very important to work.

Soft Skills - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are both very important to any job that you work in. If you are a good problem solver , you will be more likely to get hired because there will always be problems no matter the type of job. If you are good at thinking in critical moments it can make you more dependent which is another good asset for yourself. if you are a web designer and you are good at thinking and problem solving it will make you better to deal with different type of clients. Also you can come up with ideas for what they want when they aren't sure of what they want.

Soft Skills - Networking

      The more people you know the more job opportunities there can be. You should know you are networking with the right people if they work or run something that you are interested in. If you network with those type of people you can eventually even work for them. Networking is important for someone looking for a job. I am currently networking now by meeting new people and putting my work out there. Networking can help you in many ways and is something everybody should do to help each other out. 

Soft Skills - Enthusiasm and Attitude

      Being prepared for a job interview is very important. There are many ways you can be prepared and some are being dressed appropriately and having a positive attitude. You want to look your best for an interview and impress the person interviewing you. Another way to be prepared is to introduce yourself in a respectful way and talk in a enthusiastic way. You should give them an extra copy of your resume and have your phone on silent just incase someone calls you or texts you and interrupts the interview. Following all of this is essential to making a good first impression which can go a long way on if you get hired or not.

Soft Skills - Synopsis

      This course is preparing me for future employment in many ways. I have to use teamwork in some projects and I have to be good at finding solutions this course lets me practice these skills. This course helps me with professionalism by following directions and having a positive attitude in and out of the classroom. This is good because I learn how to work with different types of people which can make me more responsible which is important to working anywhere.

Lab 22

     For Lab#22 we had to create a vector image of a car and beside that we had to have a bitmap image of a car. The objective of this lab was to have both of the cars drive next to each other on a highway. Since the cars were going from the bottom of the scene to the top they had to start of big. As they were driving up the scree the cars would get smaller because they would go more farther out. We had to create this by making the cars smaller as they went up to the horizon. 

     For this lab I used Adobe Flash CS6 to make the cars move and to make the horizon. I also used it to make one of the cars because one of them had to be a vector image. I used Photoshop CS6 to select only the car that I used for the lab. I had to save the image as a PNG so I could import it to the library and turn it into both cars into a movie clip so I could animate both cars.

CTE Expo 2015

     On February 12, 2015 a CTE expo was setup by the CTE teachers and students where many freshmen were able to get a good feel of every CTE academy available to them. This CTE expo took place in the Web Design room , Video Production room and Apple room. The students that are currently in these academies including myself, contributed by showing the freshmen our previous work and answering any questions they had. We also had many of our previous work displayed where we were able to describe what we did and how we did it. This was a good opportunity for us to explain our work to other people and inform them what our academy is about and how it will best suit them.

     This CTE expo was setup to inform the freshmen about what our academy is about and why they should join. The results of the CTE expo were good because all of the classes that came into the Web Design Academy were all informed. There were many interested students that said they wanted to join after informing them what Web Design was about and what they would be doing for the next three years if they joined. These students had a good idea of what the academy was about and it interested them more after they knew more about the academy. I feel like the expo went really good and many more students found out how interesting each academy can be.

Fall Semester - Self Evaluation

     This fall semester I was happy with my grade but I felt like I could have done better with my labs by adding more detail. I learned many things during the fall semester and these things included experience with textedit, Dreamweaver and Flash. I learned how to create different types of symbols with Adobe Flash CS6 and animate them so that the symbols had their own actions. I also learned how to save the animation as a SWF file and how to insert it into a HTML document. I then added code to add a title and background color which I learned how to do in the beginning of the semester.
   
     The fun, easy and enjoyable part of this semester was creating the symbols and animations even though it was the hardest it was enjoyable because you were able to make whatever you want and choose the colors you wanted. Another easy part was adding the SWF file to a HTML document and upload it to the server so that it would be able to be seen online. The challenging part of this semester was using the tweens in the animations and making the animations work. It was hard because I felt like there was more than 1 way to do it and it was hard to make only one symbol move and not have it affect other symbols or the background. Making the symbols were also challenging and changing the shapes and adding colors and filters to make your symbol look more realistic. The boring part of this semester was adding the SWF files into a HTML document and uploading it online.
   

     This semester I can improve by adding more details into my labs. I can pay more attention in class and focus more on my work. I felt like this semester I did good with time management but I feel like I can still do better with it. Adding more details to my labs can make them look better and will help me in future projects which will make  my work look more presentable. Everything I experienced this fall semester from troubleshooting to animations and coding was very vital to my future because it will all be needed. These skills and experience will be very helpful and can impact my future.

Project 4

     For this Project #4 we had to make an animation about the theme "Respect for All." I based my project on respecting the Earth because its something people see as a small thing but it actually has a really big affect on us. For this animation I made a guy walk across the screen dropping a paper. He drops a paper in the floor, while thinking to himself "this little paper won't hurt." He says that because  he thinks polluting something small won't have an effect on anyone or the Earth. 

    If everyone has that mindset the Earth will be really polluted. After he he though about the paper not having an effect on anyone or anything the scene changes to a animation of the Earth. This is the message of the project "Respect for all" and in this scene the message is to Respect the Earth and not to pollute it. This project will help me in my future because now I have more experience with animation, making symbols, adding tweens, and adding text to the scene. This will be helpful in future labs and projects where I have to apply these skills. Here is the link to my Project #4

Lab 17

     After completing Lab #16 and creating 10 symbols and putting them together in one scene we had to animate them in Lab #17. We had to have at least 5 animations with this lab but I was having trouble with the other symbols so I just had three. For my lab I made the baseball bat look like it was hitting the baseball and I made the caterpillar run away from the baseball. I also made the legs of the caterpillar move as it was getting out of the way. We added keyframes and tweens in order to make these symbols move.

     After completing this animation and saving it as a SWF file we had to put it into a HTML document so that it would be viewable online. We had to make sure that the animations worked online and made sure everything was centered with a title. This lab will be helpful in the future because it was like practice to do better animations in the future. It can help in future lab and projects because we now know how to use keyframes, frames, and tweens better.

Lab 16

     The objective for this Lab #16 was to create 10 symbols with no animations that would kind of be like a scene. We had to make 3 animals 3 flowers and 3 objects. For this lab I used tools like the shape tool , paint bucket tool , selection tool, rectangle tool and many more. This lab was good because it helped us with making different kind of symbols. I struggled a little with the animals but I tried to make them the best that I could've.

     After we were done with making all of our symbols we had to put all of them together in one scene. Then we had to save it as a SWF file so that we would be able to put it online. We  had to make an HTML document for this lab so that we could include our Lab in. We inserted the SWF file into our document and uploaded it online.  This lab will be helpful in the future because it helped me in making different types of symbols and adding them into one scene.

Lab 15

     The objective for this lab #15 was to make 3 instances of happy faces. For this lab we created symbols like the eyes , pupil, mouth and more. We had to make the mouth and eyebrows move as the animation went on. This was the second animation that we made and it was a little harder. Then we had to add three different filters to the eyes of the three instances. We had to make the instances different sizes but they were all at the same speed. 

     After saving it as a SWF file we had to put it into a website with a title and background. Last we had to upload it to our online portfolio and make sure that it worked online. This can be helpful in my future because now I am better at making animations. I now have more experience with Flash which will help me in future labs and projects. I also now know how to make faces and how to change the faces and even add filters to different parts of the animation.

WBL Convention

     Mr. Morris came to our CCEC center on Monday January 12, 2015  to explain to us how to impress an employer and tips on our cover letter and resume. He also told us how important it was to have a professional email because he has personally seen really bad emails himself. This would be so that you can give it out for job applications and much more. He told us that it was okay to have a Facebook account but that we had to keep it clean. Employers can go through them and if they see something wrong, it could affect on whether or not they hire you.
     Mr.Morris also told us that it was important to give a cover letter as well as a resume when applying for the job. He told us that we should research the job that we were applying for so that we can see the type of culture the job has and how you will fit in. He told us we should include why we want the job and how we would be good for the job in the cover letter. Also to include something about yourself like your own skills and what makes you the right person to hire. These tips were really helpful to crete our own resume.

Lab 14

     For this lab #14 the objective was to make an animation of a bouncing ball using Adobe Flash CS6. To do this we use tools like the shape tool and changed the color of the ball and background. We  inserted keyframes and then moved the ball so that it looked like it was bouncing. We were also able to change the frames per second to make the animation go slower or faster. We needed 4 different speeds of the ball bouncing to complete this lab.

     After we finished changing the speeds and finished with our animation we have to put all four of them in a html file that would go into our lab portfolio and submit the link of the website. This will be helpful in my future because now I know a little bit about Adobe Flash CS6. After more labs of creating different things and troubleshooting when things go wrong it will make my skills better. I will learn more and learn how to approach problems in the future.