Trainers Talk Tech

This tutorial was my presentation at the ASTD TK 08 show in San Antonio Texas. While running the creation stations at this year's conference, many people asked me about the materials I used for last year's session. Yes, the main interface is CS3, not the current CS4, but ActionScript hasn't changed. Therefore, this manual can be very helpful if you are making the bridge to AS 3.0 from AS 2.0, or you want to just get started with AS 3.0.

Foundational ActionScript 3.0 with Flash CS3 for the Online Learning Developer
ASTD TK 2008

Module 1: Communicating with ActionScript
Module 2: Using and Writing Functions
Module 3: Basic Interactivity
Module 4: Decision Making
Module 5: Text and Text Fields
Module 6: Video and Audio
Module 7: Creating Online Learning

In Module 7, I have created two (2) sample AS 3.0 eLearning interfaces that can be used to easily drop in content. The first one (Template 001) is a single .swf file and it is a time-line based, "menu on the left" driven course. It is a single file which is quick and easy to use. Functions included in interface 001:

• Clicking on a button and going to a URL
• Clicking on a button and going to the next frame
• Clicking on a button and going to a previous frame
• Dynamically pulling data about frame position and total frame numbers
• A movie clip code changing properties of the parent movie

The .fla and .swf code is in the module 7/template001 directory.

The second interface is a bit more advanced. It consists of a single .swf file containing the menu and interface elements. However, when the user clicks on the menu, it dynamically loads the new module .swf files into itself. I used to use this technique in AS 2.0 all the time:

loadMovieNum

It was my favorite function!

Unfortunately, they killed it in AS 3.0. This template contains the code for building eLearning using AS 3.0 that mirrors the functionality I used to enjoy in AS 2.0. Functions included in Interface 002:

• Clicking on a button and going to a URL
• Clicking on a button and going to the next frame
• Clicking on a button and going to a previous frame
• Dynamically pulling data about frame position and total frame numbers
• Dynamically loading new .swf files into the main file
• Independent controls existing inside of a loaded .swf
• A movie clip code changing properties of the parent movie

The .fla and .swf code for the start page and all the additional pages is in the module 7/template002 directory.

This course took a lot of time and work to complete. I offer you these two templates so that they can potentially shave a ton of time off of your eLearning development, or provide you with code snippets to use in your own projects. Please feel free to download and use as you see fit.

However I ask you:

1. Please don't mass distribute in your office - don't make a ton of copies and give them to all your friends
2. Please don't use it to teach a class - don't download it and then use it as your own course materials
3. Please don't use download it and then distribute it off of your web site
4. If you found it useful and it saved you time, please add a comment to this page - it helps my SEO
5. If this was crazy helpful and it saved your bacon at 3:00 am, please consider a donation. It encourages me to continue posting these types of tutorials and helpful files, as well as creating new ones for your use as an eLearning developer

Thanks and enjoy the tutorial! And if you donate, thank you very much for the contribution!

Download the file - 23 MB zip file

Ok...I'm beginning to see a pattern here - everyone is talking about Web 2.0 and how we must, must, must start implementing this technology into our eLearning. Here are a couple observations about Web 2.0 and the feedback I've been receiving from people I am meeting at the conference:

1. Majority of folks I'm talking with have loved learning about Web 2.0 because they didn't know about it until now. What? This was very surprising to me..but then again...this ASTD show tends to attract the newer developers, managers and people just getting started in eLearning.
2. Some of this will not be used, no matter how cool. OK, I'm talking specifically about Second Life. I wanted to love it. I wanted to get my brain around how to use it. Unfortunately, I experienced it first hand and it was an epic fail. Not because it didn't work, but because what I saw made me want to scream. I spoke with a Second Life facilitator (someone who uses it to teach classes) and she said that "People want to play when they are in Second Life. If we schedule a three hour Second Life class, we know we will only be able to cover 90 minutes." What? What a waste of time. I wanted to root for it, but I predict it will be dead in 2 years.
3. Podcasting rocks! I have been speaking with people who have been raving about Jonathan Halls and Sharon Halls podcasting session. They took 90 minutes and explained every aspect of a good podcast and people are excited. Podcasting is easy to do, easy to produce, has a huge impact on your learners and is a way to present content in a unique way. Shameless, unasked for plug: Jonathan and Sharon's company is Talkshow Communication, Ltd. I've never met them, but they took the mystery out of good podcasts and many people have raved about them to me.

I've been a fan of incorporating Web 2.0 for a long time (earlier posts here talk about it), but am impressed with how ASTD has embraced this stuff, are featuring this stuff and really pushing the envelope at this conference. I've been involved with TK since 2001, and a large share of the sessions have always been presented by Theorists. I'm a "Do-er-ist". I am very proud of the conference ASTD put together this year - the sessions are timely, well received and people are walking away with a good set of skills they can go back to the office and use.

I have one more session I am presenting tomorrow - I am talking about the Adobe CS4 Web Suite and demoing how all the software works together to build elearning. It will be great fun.

I will be presenting at the ASTD TechKnowledge Conference in Vegas this year. This will be my 9th year presenting. My first presentations were in October 2001. Yeah...one month after the world blew up. Needless to say, the conference was much smaller than expected but was still fantastic.

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