Task Nine: Our Group's Interactive Visual Representation

Our group completed to make some parts of our group project with Flash, including a cover, the background of a farm, an introduction of domestic animals, and the content of a song "Old Macdonald had a farm". In this farm, we shall introduce six animals, which are consisted of a cat, a cow, a duck, a hen, a horse, and a pig. Please click the following links to see it. After that, please leave your comments. Thank a lot !!!

1. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Draftofourproduct1.swf

2. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Draftofourproduct1.html

Right now, we are trying to insert a song "Old Macdonald had a farm" to our interactive visual representation. But, up to this moment, we still cannot be successful. We shall keep on trying our best to do it again. When we accomplish to insert music to our product, we shall upload it to our blog at once. Let all of you see its effect.

Task Eight: Revised the prototype of our representation

1. Some changes of our interactive representation

Before drafting this latest prototype of our interactive representation, I discussed with my group members for improving the contents of our project, for example: we shall change from the photos of animals to the pictures of animals. It is becasue it will be easy for us to make those animals with movable mouths.

2. The latest prototype of our interactive representation

We completed the latest prototype of our interactive representation. In this time, we use word file to present our prototype of our product. Please click the following link to see it.

http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Prototype.doc

Reflections on Session Nine

After discussing with our group members about the contents of our project last week, we decided to change the topic's name, which is called “On the Farm” at this moment. We made the above decision for enhancing our lower-class students' learning motivation and their interest. Besides, we hope that this project can be used to teach students to learn English in an enjoyable way, and help them to learn the language structure through a song (The Education and Manpower Bureau, 1990). For achieving our objective, we want to embed a song to our product for helping our students easy to follow, making learning English an enjoyable task. We selected the song “Old Macdonald had a farm” because it is melodious and easy to follow (The Education and Manpower Bureau, 1999). Besides, according to the Education and Manpower Bureau's English Language Syllable, lower-class students have to learn some domestic animals at Primary Level such as cat, cow, duck, hen, pig and so on. For making learning English more fun, we also want to design those animals in motion for drawing our students' attention on singing. In the process of making our product, we met some difficulties, for examples: we cannot embed the above song to our interactive representation and design the animals in motion. On the coming week, we shall try to do it again. We hope to complete the task as soon as possible.

The possible solution of the problem
After presenting our storyboard in our blog, Ryan gave us some good suggestions. He advised us to learn how to insert music to our final product from the following websites.

1. http://www.5sec.com/support/help_document/how_to_import_music_for_your_flash_file.html
2. http://www.flash-template-design.com/insert_music.php

For solving the above-mentioned problems, we shall learn how to insert music firstly. Next, we shall try to insert a song to our product on the coming week. Really, we hope to complete this task as soon as possible so that we shall give all of our classmates an idea what our interactive representation will be look like.

References
1. Learn to sing, sing to learn (1990)
Retrieved 24-4-07 from http://www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_2804/learn_to_sing.pdf

2. School-based curriculum Adaptation at Primary Level (1999)
Retrieved 24-4-07 from http://www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_2804/curr_adpt.pdf

Reflections on Session Eight

1. Before this lesson, my partners and I prepared a PowerPoint-based protoype of our interactive visual representation. Simultaneously, we have uploaded it in our blog.

2. In the process of designing the interactive visual representation, we met a big problem that we don't know how to insert music in our final product.

3. In the Lesson Eight, Daniel helped us solve this problem. Fristly, we have to download a free software of LAME MP3 in our computer. That website is http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ . Secondly, we shall be able to save the song of "Old MacDonald had a farm" in the Flash's Library. After that, it will be easy for us to import that song in our final product.

4. We are planning to do the above matter (No. 3) on this coming weekend. We hope we shall complete the part of inserting music as soon as possible. Next, we shall be able to see the effect of our product.

Presentation -- Our storyboard of A Farm

This is our storyboard. My partners and I prepared one PowerPoint for tomorrow night's Presentation. If you have spare time, you can see it before the class. I think that you will easily understand what we are ready to plan for doing our final project.

This storyboard is about "A Farm"
1. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/AFarm.ppt

Sharing my visual display with all of you

Dear my classmates,

Today, I made one visual display with Flash. I would like to share it with you. In the process of designing this product, I learnt how to set the timeline properly and use the function of shape to control the picture of heart moving. Please click the following links to see it.

This topic is about "Heart"

1. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Heart.html

2. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Heart.swf

Reflections on Session Seven

1. Review how to make a digital photo story
Before Lesson Seven, I used the software of Flash MX to make my digital photo story. I did not use the software of Photo Story 3 to complete my assignment because I could not download that software on my computer successfully. In the Lesson Seven, Daniel explained to us how to download this software and how to make a photo story again. After class, I tried to design a personal story, which was called “Summer Vacation” by using Photo Story 3. Because this software is very user-friendly, I just need approximately 15 minutes to complete my task. For the above reason, I strongly recommend all of you to use Photo Story 3 to design your photo story if you have not completed your task yet.

2. Classmates' Presentation
My classmates' storyboards were interesting. They could explain what their project's objective was, but they did not design the main point of their presentation on a single slide as a storyboard. Overall, their presentations did very well. According to the point 3 of Daniel's suggestion, I think that it is very difficult for the lower-class students and mentally-handicapped children. For this reason, I think that teachers must be careful to design their visual and interactive representations for their teaching.

3. Designing a Slider
I learnt how to design two sliders with Flash in the Lesson Seven, one was Number Slider, and the other one was Year Slider. I make sure that they are very useful for teaching, for example: the Year slider can be used for introducing something / someone history. One day ago, I tried to design one slider with this information technology for introducing “History of Victoria Harbour”.

Task Seven: Designing a Slider

Dear my classmates,
In the seventh lesson, I learnt how to make slider which is very useful, especially for providing teachers to teach Chinese History and History. The following visual display introduces "History of Victoria Harbour". Please click below links to see it.

1. Introduce the history of "Victoria Harbour"
According to the free encyclopledia of Wiki, "Victoria Harbour" is the harbour between the Kowloon Peninsula and the Hong Kong Island of Hong Kong, China. With an area of about 41.88 km² as at 2004, its natural depth and sheltered location enticed the British to occupy the island of Hong Kong during the First Opium War, and subsequently established the colony as a trading post. The harbour is famous for its spectacular panoramic views, and is in itself a top tourism attraction. It is a natural focal point of the territory, and considered a crucial natural geographical element for city dwellers. This sense of geographical attachment is most notably demonstrated in recent years, when the Government's efforts to undertake reclamation project in the harbour were met with widespread popular protests, despite reclamation work having taken place in the harbour for the past one and a half centuries.

2. This topic is about "History of Victoria Harbour"
2.1 http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Vicatoriaharbour.html
2.2 http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Vicatoriaharbour.swf

3. References
3.1 The meaning of Victoria Habour
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Harbour,_Hong_Kong
3.2 The pictures of Victoria Habour
3.2.1 http://lostseouls.com/blog.php?date=may-05
3.2.2 http://www.unrealhongkong.com/hong-kong-historical-pictures.html
3.2.3 http://www.treeofknowledge.com/hongkong.htm
3.2.4 http://www.ibiblio.org/hkpa/scenic/by-year/en/1972_1986.html

Task Six (2): Digital Photostory

Dear my classmates,
Several days ago, I used the softeware of Flash MX to design one digital photostory. When I made that one, I had to spend a lot of time on designing it. Today, I completed one more digital photostory by using the software of Photo Story 3. I just needed apploximately 15 minutes to complete this task. After finishing this job, I felt easil y to learn the software of Photo Story 3 comparing with the software of Flash MX. For this reason, I strongly recommend all of you to use this software to make your photostory. I make sure that you will be able to complete your assignment within 15 minutes.

1. The Background of my digital photostory
I love Australia very much because my home is there. This digital photostory is a personal
story. It was mentioned one of our summer vacation. Firstly, I would like to introduce
"Australia".
According to the free encyclopedia of Wiki, Australia is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the world's smallest continent. The mainland of Australia has been inhabited for more than 42,000 years by Indigenous Australians. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the north and by European explorers and merchants starting in the seventeenth century, the eastern half of the mainland was claimed by the British in 1770 and officially settled through penal transportation as the colony of New South Wales on 26 January, 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, another five largely self-governing Crown Colonies were successively established over the course of the 19th Century. On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a Federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since federation. Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonweath Realm. The capital city is Canberra. The current national population is approximately 20.8 million people. Australia is concentrated mainly in the large coastal cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
My family members and I live in Sydney. If you want to know what the local Chinese people do in their summer vacation, click the following link to see it that you will know the actual situation.

2. The Link of My Digital Photostory
http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/SummerVacation.wmv

3. References:
3.1 Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia

Sharing my visual display with all of you

Dear my classmates,

I made one interactive map today. I would like to introduce Taiwan's Attraction. Did you visit this country? If no, you must click the following links to see it. Make sure you will expect to go there for travelling after seeing this map's content.

1. This topic of the interactive map is about "Taiwan（Republic of China）"

1. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Interactivemap.html

2. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Interactivemap.swf

2. References:

1. Tainan

http://www.tainan.gov.tw/eng/index.aspx

2.Taipei City

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei

3. Taitung City

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taitung_County

4. Taiwan

4.1 http://www.skyscrapers.cn/data/skymark/tw_ti_tilol.htm

4.2 http://www.taiwanfun.com/north/taipei/articles/0201/020/CovershiLinTw.htm

4.3 http://www.taiwan.net.tw/lan/cht/index/index.asp.

5. 台灣觀光

http://travel.network.com.tw/main/travel

Remark:

Did you discover this visual display made more beautiful than the past ones? ^-^!!!

Sharing my visual display with all of you

Dear my classmates,
Today, I designed one interactive representation with Flash as a teaching aid. After completing this task, I learnt some skills, for examples: how to make buttons and insert sound. Right now, I would like to share it with you. Please click the following links to see it. After reading it, please leave your comment. Thank you very much.

This topic is about "Colour".
1. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Colour.html
2. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Colour.swf

Reference:

1. The picture of "Hello Kitty"

http://xogij.blogs.com/xogij/2004/09/copycat.html

Sharing my visual display with all of you

Hi, Happy Easter!!!

Dear my classmates,

I want to say "Happy Easter" to all of you. Yesterday, I spent several hours on making a game with Flash. After completing that task, I learnt how to make different kinds of buttons. Please click the following links to read it. After that, please leave your comment. Thank you very much.

Links of A Game:

1. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/EasterHoliday.html

2. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/EasterHoliday.swf

Reflections on Session Six

Session Six is an online lesson. In this week, I learnt what digital storytelling is. According the free encyclopedia of Wikipedia, digital storytelling refers to using new digital tools to help ordinary people to tell their own real-life stories. In schools, teachers and students can use this kind of information technology to make photo stories, videos stories and interactive multimedia projects. Thus, as teacher / student plan and develop a digital story, teacher becomes digital story designer; student becomes designer. Teachers and students can use camera, scanner, imaging software, and mobile handheld technologies to develop a digital story. Digital storytelling can support students' engagement, creativity, multimodal thinking and expression, collaboration, project work and so on. Actually, we can download Microsoft Photo story 3.0 to make a digital story. We can design educationally effective digital stories with user-friendly technologies. When we are ready to design a digital story, we must know the following seven steps for developing our digital story.

They are included:
1. Select Topic
2. Conduct Research
3. Design Storyboards
4. Collect material
5. Develop Story
6. Export Video
7. Deliver Story

References:
1. http://www.learnactivity.com/ds/

2. http://www.learnactivity.com/ds/DigitalStorytelling.ppt#3

3. The meaning of digital storytelling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_storytelling

4. Photo Story 3 for Windows http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

Task Six (1): Digital Photostory

Dear Classmates:
Before / On 10th April, 2007, we have to submit a digital photostory to our blog. Actually, it is very difficult for me to complete this task. For finishing this assignment, I spent two days on reading books about making a digital photo story with Flash. Finally, I can complete this task. ^_^ !!! Please click the following links to see it.

1. Background of this Personal Story
When I was a little child, I lived with my family in Macau. In that period, I felt very happy because the local people were very friendly, especially, my neighbours and my friends. They were very nice to my family and me. I love Macau very much. When I was six, my family and I had to move to Hong Kong because my father came here for doing his business. Therefore, we followed my father to stay in here. After that, I did not go back to Macau again. Last year, my elder sister came to Hong Kong from USA. For memorising our past life in Macau, my sister and I wanted to revisit Macau. In this trip, my sister and I were very happy because we met our old friends in St. Peter Church.

2. Links of My Personal Story
2.1http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/PhotoSlideshow.swf

3. References
3.1 Video Photo-tutorials or Video Storytelling Projects made with Microsoft Photo Story
http://drscavanaugh.org/digitalcamera/photostorytelling/storytelling_PhotoStory.htm

3.2 Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
http://netmail.netvigator.com/netvigator/dashboard/goto_netmail_c.html

3.3 王緒溢(2002). Flash MX. 台灣：碁峰資訊。

Sharing my visual display with all of you

Dear my classmates,
I made a short story with Flash yesterday. After that, I like designing interactive things. Today I designed a Mother's Card with Flash because Mother's Day will come soon. In the process of designing this card, I learnt to use the functions of "Scale", " Rotate and Skew", "Break Apart", "Create Motion Tween" and so on.
If you would like to read it, click the following links you will be able to see it. After reading it, please leave your comment to me. Thank you very much!

Mother's Day Card:
1. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/MotherDay.html
2. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/MotherDay.swf

Sharing my visual display with all of you

I am very HAPPY!

Do you know WHY I am very happy now? It is because I can make a short story with Flash by myself. Before taking this module, I have no concept of Flash. For acquiring these skills, today I spent a whole day on reading books about Flash and then practised designing some visual objects with Flash. Right now, I know how to use different kinds of tools to design visual and interactive representations, for examples: Rectangle, Oval, Arrow, Subselection, Line, Pencil, Brush, Ink Bottle, Pink Bucket and set the time-line properly.

If you want to see my product, click the following links you will be able to see it. After reading it, please leave your comment to me.

Thanks a lot!

A Story about a puppy:

1. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Firsttry.html

2. http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Firsttry.swf

Reflections on Session Five

In the Lesson Five, I learnt the following knowledge, including:

1. What is Storyboard?
According to the free encyclopedia of Wikipedia, storyboards are graphic organizers such as
a series of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of previsualizing a
motion graphic or interactive media sequence, including websites and digital media.
After learning what the storyboard is, my partners and I tried to use simple storyboard to present
our group project. You can click the following link to read the storyboard of our project.
http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Animalfarm.ppt

2. An interactive map of Hong Kong with Flash
During the fifth lesson, Daniel demonstrated to make an interactive map of Hong Kong with
Flash. It was very interesting. But, I think that it is very difficult for me to do the same matter
because I have never learnt it before. Luckily, my tutor and my classmate were patient to teach
me how to make Flash buttons and control objects on the scene. After that lesson, I believe it is
very useful for my teaching. For acquiring the above skills, I think the important thing is to
practice in making a map with flash by myself.

References:
1. The Meaning of Storyboard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storyboard

Task Five: Storyboard of Our Project

Our project's name is "Animal Farm". Below two pieces of information are mentioned our final project's main idea. After reading those contents, please leave your comment to us.
Thanks a lot!

1. Introduction of Our Project
http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Storyboard.doc

2. Storyboard of Our Project
http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/pmcheung2/Animalfarm.ppt

3. References:
3.1 Old Macdonald had a farm
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/download/britlit/oldmac/oldmac.shtml
3.2 Songs of Old Macdonald
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/kids/songs/docs/oldmac.doc