This webpage compiles all of the blog entries I've made during the second semester. The days left out are simply days on which I didn't have time to blog - sorry!
Today I worked some more on Flash Catalyst. This is meant to be a blog because I cannot find the right file. I followed an online tutorial that instructed how to make changes to states, and also one that showed how to make data lists. The one with changes to states was basically making modifications on a premade map of an olive farm; the one with data lists was simply a list of dates, and you had to follow the tutorial to see how it worked. I also finished my interactive movie site.
Today I did a lot of work on my Flash Catalyst aquarium site, which I began working on a few weeks ago. Right now it has five states - a blank one, a map, a list of animals, a list of events, and a game. I'm working on the game right now. There's also a fish that changes colors when you click on it, which is pretty funny. I also helped some people with their projects.
Today I added a quiz to my Flash Catalyst aquarium site, and fixed all the glitches that had accumulated during the creation stage. I couldn't think of anything more to add - I've used all the techniques, or at least most of the techniques, which were mentioned in the tutorials on Adobe TV - and so I decided I was finished. I exported my file to an .swf file. Next time I think I'm going to try and make a nice CSS layout, since I don't have anything else to do.
Today I attempted to make a start on my final project, but I didn't get very far. My plan is to make a kind of math game for kids in 3rd and 4th grade (since my brother and sister fit the description and are also pretty bad at math, they'll be good to test the game on). However, I don't really have much experience in writing stuff in java and so mostly I just looked at the exercises in the Java for Students book. From what I can see, it won't be that easy to make an application in Java; thankfully, my dad is a computer programmer and so I'll be able to get help on how to make my application at home. I do have a plan for what I'm going to be doing, though; I just need to do the investigation and find out why, really, the 'solution' I'm making will be needed.
Today was just a single lesson but I worked a bit more on my Java project. I made another class, game, and attempted to link it to my original class, appBackground. While I made a bit of progress, I didn't make much, because I couldn't get my action listener to work. There doesn't seem to be an IDE on any of the computers in the lab, so I'm going to try to use NetBeans to work on the basics of my program at home - after all, it seems pretty complicated, so I think it's a good idea for me to get a head start.
Over the weekend, I decided that doing the Java project was a bit too much. My dad, who's a programmer, looked at what I had done, and said that I probably had too high expectations for myself - I guess my original design for the project was a bit too detailed. I decided that instead of working on something which I didn't understand, I would do something which I already know - so instead of the Java project, I'll be doing something in PHP. I'm not sure what yet, but I'm thinking about it, and hopefully by next lesson I'll be able to start. This lesson, however, I worked on the website that you're looking at now - I made the layout and added the pages, and also began recounting the process of making my Flash Catalyst project.
This lesson I finished my evaluation for the Flash Catalyst project. I think that I'm going to make a PHP site manager for my individual project. I'm still not sure who has a problem which requires a site manager, but I think that it'll be fun. Either that or I'll make something that I've been thinking about for a while, which is just a series of tutorials about programming. My reasoning for that is that people really need to learn programming - and not just how to use Flash Catalyst - and so tutorials about HTML, CSS, PHP, and MySQL will be useful. I actually had the idea quite a bit ago, so I'll also be able to use it.
Today I started my individual project, or at least the planning for it. Then I decided that I wasn't sure that I wanted to make a photo sharing site and so I sort of stalled and wrote this blog. My indecisiveness regarding this is quickly diminishing the head start I've been able to get on this project, but I guess it's better than starting the wrong project and getting bored with it. The annoying thing is that approximately 5% of the class was working. Most people were either watching videos on Youtube (not that charlieissocoollike is not, like, so cool, but it wasn't IT work) or texting people or going on blogs or just doing nothing.
Today we went to the theatre during IT because the grade nines who take Performing Arts were putting on a performance. I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted to start my project - I decided that I want to make a forum. This is a good idea because forums are always usefull (really, they're amazing) and also because I have made forums before. I think they're very interesting as you can both use object-oriented programming and databases, not to mention they are extremely useful.
Today I started on my forum. I decided to use a few classes from a project that I made a year or so ago. However, they're all my work, so I'm sure that's okay. It's sort of hard to make stuff while not being able to test the code (since this computer has nothing like XAMPP or even just a localhost server on it) but I'll be able to test it (and work on it, of course, too) at home.
Today I worked on my forum. Apparently we are also supposed to make a wall walk (whatever that is - I don't really get why we have to make it) and so I'll need to find some way to incorporate that into my project. I'll probably mostly work on my stuff at home, I've decided, which is too bad, since I don't have that much time. Oh well, there's not much else I can do.
Today I filmed for the project, since I won't be able to work on it at home because while I have a tripod and a video camera, I have no one to act for students. I'll work on the forum at home.
Today I had to switch to a different computer since the one with my video and everything died. I'm hoping it comes back to life, because otherwise I'll have to make the video again and that probably won't be very fun... oh well. So instead of working on the forum or the video, I made a Catalyst project with schedules for classes.
Today I refilmed, then completed, my 'wallwalk' video. Once I had imported the video into iMovie HD, I put it into Final Cut Express in order to make the final video. I added effects like transitions and glows, as well as text at the end. When I was done, I ex ported it to a Quicktime file. I'll put both my Flash Catalyst project and this video into the final website; however, I might end up making the forum a bit less elaborate than originally intended, since I have done other things.
Today I made pages for my Catalyst and video projects, and helped others with their projects. I also considered attempting to incorporate my animated GIF organizer into my project but then didn't because it's just too cool.
Today I pretty much had most of my project done, so I helped Dinushi, Fiona, and Sabrina with their project. Last lesson, and at home, I finished my forum and turned the link for that in. I realize that there are still some glitches, but I guess I'll have to live with them. All in all, I enjoyed this project, but I'm glad I'm done with it.