BP12_Final Video

Pitch for student mentors.

PE7_Flash CS5

Michael Werner, the student whose story is featured in PE6, went on to become the first Mac Lab legend. Second in the legendary artist list is Jeff Micklos, classmate of Michael's, pictured at left, and animated here. Both created a wealth of incredible work over the three or four years they spent in the class. Both excelled at Photoshop and Flash and both pushed the quality/expectations bar in the Mac Lab sky-high.

Jeff graduated with honors from the Art Institute and is currently working in in San Francisco. Michael branched out on his own and currently freelances.

Those two weren't the only exceptional students in the early years but they helped open the door for all who followed, like Brian Sweat and Daniel Fields, the next in the series of Flash gurus in the Mac Lab. It's been a few years since anyone has pushed Flash as we've focused on other tools in the Creative Suite arsenal.

And that brings me back to my own return to Flash. With step four, the journey—or at least the initial part of it—is now complete. Here are the results:



Flash Example | Higher Quality Version of the Video

Credits: Image courtesy of Michael Werner.

PE6_Flash CS5

In the first few years of teaching, I bought and read an amazing number of Flash books. Surprisingly, each of them seemed to approach Flash in virtually the same manner. Thinking it must stand apart, I finally bought the Flash MX 2004 Bible. Though I read through much of that hefty tomb in the early years of teaching, I've rejected most of the strategies in all of these Holy Books as each seems to offer the same dogmatic method of introducing one to the interactive nature of the almighty program.

I began to develop my own approach to reaching and teaching Flash, all the while trying to impress upon my students the high standards that the Mac Lab has come to be know for. An underclassman named Michael dove into Flash with relish, eager to tell his tale. His first video was met with cheers. The rest of the story unfolds as told in one of my first blog posts:

I challenged him several times, Is that the best you can do? He responded with this and this and this. That's it? That's the best you got? That's pitiful! And the kids around him laughed, though not at him. He was a hero for taking the pro-PC stand against Skocko—for putting down Skocko's beloved Macs. But he knew what I really meant. He felt the challenge. And he rose to meet it (press the play button).

Now we were getting somewhere. While the other kids just saw a cooler version of destroying a Mac, he and I discussed the robot and its movement. What he'd accomplished was actually quite impressive. It showed real promise and I encouraged him to take the animation further. He worked. We talked. He came up with this series of animations (resize the browser window to better fit the SWFs): one, two, three, and four. Only those who understand Flash can begin to appreciate just how far this student pushed himself. That's a journey one doesn't easily forget. 

But I digress. Now back to the story of my partial resurrection as a Flasher...



Flash Example | Higher Quality Version of the Video

Credits: Flash MX 2004 Bible image courtesy of PhotoshopSupport.com.

PE5_Flash CS5

About a month after I began teaching in January of 2002, I challenged the mostly uninspired crew I inherited to learn a new application. My pitch to the so-called advanced classes on a Friday morning? Let's learn Flash together!

Since none of us knew anything about using the program, I challenged the kids to beat me at the learning game. The response was less than enthusiastic. Impulsively, I said something like: If I can create something cool to show on Monday, will you give it a try?

What happened that Monday? Click. And the great Mac Lab Flash rush was on.

Continuing my efforts to regain my Flash footing in CS5, here's the scoop to date:



Flash Example | Higher Quality Version of the Video

Credits: Flash 5 splash graphic courtesy of Reinaldo Aguilera via GUIdebook.

PE4_Flash CS5

Once upon a time, people from around the world came to my little website to learn to use Flash. Sometimes the people would leave a few breadcrumbs behind. All was well in the world.

Then the day came came to pass that Adobe released the CS4 collection. I opened Flash and much to my surprise, none of my basic skills were of any use. My old friend had changed the locks to all her doors and though disappointed, I had no great urge to rediscover how to unlock the program because the rest of the Master Collection was packed with other exciting tools to explore. Flash became a distant memory, like my very own Puff, the Magic Dragon.

Now, however, thanks to this assignment, I've dusted off some old skills and discovered a few new ones as this video demonstrates:



Flash Example | Higher Quality Version of the Video

Credits: Flash logo courtesy of Adobe.

BP11_OMM_Instapaper

For more information see BP8.

Credits: Instapaper

BP10_Link to My Comment on Connie's Blog

Link to comment on Connie's Blog.

Credits: Image courtesy of Quizegg.com.