[Yr7-10it] Flash Actionscript
Costello, Rob R
Costello.Rob.R at edumail.vic.gov.au
Sat Nov 14 20:49:22 EST 2009
gamemaker scripting is a version of action script? overstating it i think - they do look a little similar, but only, as that page says
"GML is structurally similar to C <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)> -based languages in its use of code blocks, function calls, variable assignments, operator syntax, and so on".
so i guess as far as the language looks, also similar to java, C#, javascript, actionscript, anything that uses that sort of style - these things are pretty different in other ways though
i enjoyed teaching gamemaker - kids got a long way with it (similarly with scratch - agree the social networkng, publishing, remiixing aspect of scratch is a nice - though i found kids liked it even without using the site much)
and if the visual drag and drop tiles in either of these enviornments translated to a scripting view, and vice versa, i think it would have been a very nice way to learn that generic language style - ie be nice to dip in as you go - switch back to tile view for support etc
i gather there is an attempt to do something like this called TileScript ,,,but doesn't seem to have got much traction though they describe our problem in finding the right thing to teach, pretty well
Systems like Scratch [3] offer graphical building blocks
that the user can manipulate and combine with the mouse
to construct programs. The blocks are symbolic representations
of the elements of a program (such as numbers, symbols,
and control structures) so the user has to learn what
each block does and means, but as he learns more about
these blocks, his productivity increases. Unfortunately, this
gentle learning curve has some negative consequences; for
example, Scratch intentionally omits the concept of interobject
reference to avoid confusion. This design choice
makes it tricky to write a program where multiple objects
work together.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are languages and
systems with fully textual code. Many educational and enduser
development environments are based on Java, Python
and other conventional languages, which makes them very
expressive. Also, text-based programming tends to be more
efficient than tiles as programs grow in complexity. Processing
[4] and J0 [5] are based on simplified versions of
Java, and provide end-user-oriented development environments.
However, users have to deal with syntax errors, and
face a steeper learning curve
from http://www.tinlizzie.org/~awarth/papers/c5-08.pdf
game maker can do both - but you have to choose on or the other - can't see the same expression in both iconoc and textual views, as far as i know
cheers
rob
________________________________
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Roland Gesthuizen
Sent: Sat 11/14/2009 10:53 AM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] Flash Actionscript
Some may be curious to know that GameMaker at the code level uses a version of Action Script called GML. There have been some attempts at creating a GML to Flash converter. If you are curious, you can read up a bit about it here ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Maker_Language
2009/11/14 <mppascoe at tpg.com.au>
Paul G,
I'd have to agree with Rob and say that AS is probably not the best language
for the general student populace at Years 7 to 10. But if your school has
Flash, then it is still worthwhile exposing the students to how those
hundreds of .SWF games that they have on their USB sticks are actually made.
I tend to use an "IKEA flat pack" approach, where much of the project is
already coded, (eg. The main engine), and it is up to them to customize it
and put it all together. Some students get right into it (about 1 in 20?)
but the others are ok with just simple things like buttons, rollovers, drag
and drop, etc. They all like doing matching games and jigsaw puzzles:
http://tinyurl.com/FLmatchShapes
http://tinyurl.com/ASmatching1
http://tinyurl.com/ASjigsaw
Actual Games making is too much work for the vast majority of them:
(they want to play finished games, not make them)
http://tinyurl.com/PassyAvoider
http://tinyurl.com/ASsoccer1
A really great book about Flash AS Games Programming is:
ActionScript 3.0 Game Programming University by Gary Rosenzweig
Also if you get a chance go to any of Kevork's Actionscript PD's.
Enjoy,
Paul Pascoe
ICT / Maths Teacher
St Francis Xavier College Berwick
mppascoe at tpg.com.au
http://passyworldofict.blogspot.com <http://passyworldofict.blogspot.com/>
-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Costello, Rob R
Sent: Saturday, 14 November 2009 12:31 AM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Yr7-10it] Flash
hi Paul
what can be done?
:)
everything.
i came from a similar angle - VB ...happy to tinker ...
learning how to program in flash took a while though - i read some books
over a couple of hols - unusual for me, i usually jump in - (Colin Moock
is the author (x3) i'd recommend there - takes you through in a thorough
way that worked for me anyway)
AS1 was kind of easier to learn (and you can still program in that style),
AS2 uses the same language elements but introduced a more object orientated
approach (classes etc), AS3 has taken that further ...
i think i'd probably aim at the AS1 style with students
what would i actually do with kids though ...
rollovers, mouseovers, follow the mouse games etc
some people on this list have been suggesting some templated games (AS3
style) (ie copy most of the code in, tinker from there)
i'm not sure ... it gets them started, but not sure well how it travels
beyond the samples...maybe someone can comment
a few of the yr 8 boys wanted to learn AS last year, and while we did a
little, - we decompiled some games and changed gravity values etc - but i'm
not sure its designed for teaching with (as a first language anyway)
some flash coders would probably disagree with me - i'd be very interested
if anyone has kids fluently programming in flash
(i have one student example - self taught was well -
http://www.firoweb.com/simulations/
(AS1 <http://www.firoweb.com/simulations/%0A%28AS1> approach) - but he had learnt some logo before that (check the frog
one!)
i haven't really tried to teach actionscript as a course so can't be very
helpful - (Alice, Scratch, GameMaker, even VB, all seemed much easier to
start with)
did do this for the year 8s - but me, not them, so its not the best example
- though we did have some good class discussion around it
http://thinkingcurriculum.decenturl.com/linerider
along those lines, another thing i played with ... (for kids, not by them
... so i'm not sure about this)
http://www.thinkingcurriculum.com/demos/widgets/logspiral
its sad if we can't get to this with kids by the end of school; but i'm not
sure flash coding is the starter
no answers i'm afraid!
scratch? Alice?
rob
-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Paul Golub
Sent: Fri 11/13/2009 4:30 PM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Yr7-10it] Flash
Hi Rob,
I would be interested in doing more actionscript. I currently use Visual
Basic as my prgramming language but if I knew more actionscript I would use
Flash. I currently only know how to do scripts for buttons - move from one
scene to the next or stop or play a scene.
What I would like to know is, what else can be done with actionscript?
(Nothing complicated - aiming at year9 maybe 10)
Thanks.
Paul Golub
Santa Maria College
50 Separation Street
Northcote 3070
Ph: 9488 1674
-----Original message-----
From: "Costello, Rob R" Costello.Rob.R at edumail.vic.gov.au
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:01:14 +1100
To: "Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing
List"yr7-10it at edulists.com.au
Subject: RE: [Yr7-10it] Flash
hi karen
you might like this acrostic activity in flash
http://thinkingcurriculum.decenturl.com/acrostic
there is a programming language in flash (actionscript), but i probably
wouldn't go there unless you and/or the kids have done a little programming;
probably not the best place to start
probably enough design things to do to fill a course
cheers
rob
________________________________
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Karen Webster
Sent: Thu 11/12/2009 8:16 PM
To: yr7-10it at edulists.com.au
Subject: [Yr7-10it] Flash
We have recently added Flash CS4 to the network. I am beginning lessons with
Year 9's. I have begun with the basics: workspace, drawing tools, basic
animation using classic tween.
I am not sure if I am heading in the right direction, maybe I am taking it
too slowly. I haven't used Flash before so I am not sure.
What do you do with Flash?
thanks in advance
Karen Webster
ICT Teacher
Alexandra SC
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Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au <http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au/>
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
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Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
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