Interactive Digital Media

Most of us are familiar with interactive media products such as video games, PowerPoint presentations, digital videos and digital photographs. For today’s students, the knowledge and skills that can be gained in this module will be invaluable.

	Students create multimedia presentations that incorporate digital video, animations and digital audio.
	Exposure to industry standard IM software such as Macromedia Flash, Adobe Premiere and Microsoft PowerPoint.
	They build an impressive ‘digital’ portfolio that shows exactly what their capabilities are in the field of interactive media.

DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCTION

 The use of digital technology has had a major impact in the field of video production.  This module introduces students to the digital video camera and video software.  Activities include per-production planning, scripting and storyboarding, and lighting a video set.  By the time they have completed the module, students will have produced a complete digital video production including titles, audio tracks, voiceover, transitions, and special effects.

Typical exploratory/foundation topic areas include:

• Shot composition

• Script and storyboard

• Capturing DV footage

• Recording a commentary

 Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Shooting equipment

• Stop motion animation

• Lighting sets

• Blue-screen filming special effects

 GRAPHICS & ANIMATION

 Computer generated animations are used in many areas of media, from full-length animated features to animated graphics used in news reports or weather bulletins.  This module looks at the concepts of animation from early flick book sequences to the use of web-based animation.  Students use Macromedia Flash to produce a series of computer animation for a variety of applications.

 Typical exploratory/foundation topic areas include:

• Simple shape creation

• Backgrounds and foregrounds

• Motion and shape tweening

• Layer management

• Adding sound

 Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Scene composition

• Masking

• Password protection

• Sound effects

• Interactive game design

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 

Students use a commercially available digital camera and industry standard software in the module, as they explore the world of digital photography.  Starting with the evolution of the camera and basic photographic techniques, activities move on to look at the use of a digital camera for image acquisition and the on-screen manipulation of those images.  Using the image manipulation software, students learn how to work with filters and special effects and how to add text to images.

 Typical exploratory/foundation topic areas include:

• Parts of a digital camera

• Viewing and taking photographs

• Lenses and filters

• Web page image and poster design

 Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Conventional and digital cameras

• Light and color

• The flash

• Focal length and depth of field

DIGITAL SOUND 

In this module students look at the technology behind digital sound, including the use of digital speech recognition and the generation of digital sound.  Activities include recording analog sounds on the computer, conversion of those sounds into digital form, and using the digital sounds for a variety of applications.  These include using verbal commands to control software as well as using voice commands to move an animated figure around an on-screen maze. 

Typical exploratory/foundation topic areas include:

• Human anatomy for speech

• Viewing voice waveforms

• Effect of sample frequency

• Rate, pitch, and volume

 Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Computer generated sound effects

• Adding backing tracks

• Text to speech synthesis

• Transfer of digital sound to analog tape

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION 

Multimedia is a powerful tool for creating business applications as well as educational or entertainment titles.  This module looks at the concepts of multimedia production and introduces students to the use of Microsoft PowerPoint.  Activities include working with storyboards, creation of basic text and graphic screens, and adding in audio and video.  Advanced work includes the creation of an interactive resume and interactive web pages. 

Typical exploratory/foundation topic areas include:

• Storyboards

• Entering text

• Linking frames

• Interactive buttons

Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Scanning images

• Hotspots

• Charts

• Animation techniques

WEB PAGE DESIGN

 The internet is a communications medium that makes extensive use of text and graphics, This module will provide students with the skills needed to create HTML WebPages using a graphic web page editor.  Activities include creating and using web-ready graphics, creating hypertext links and bookmarks and working with forms.  Once the student has created a web site it may be published to a web server and accessed via a web browser. 

Typical exploratory/foundation topic area include:

• Using a graphical web page editor

• Formatting text and images

• Creating tables

• Using themes

Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Creating and editing JavaScript

• Creating and using style sheets

• Working with Dynamic HTML

• Fixing cross-browser compatibility issue

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING 

The exploratory phase of this module uses interactive simulations involving a planetary robot to provide hands-on experience of key programming concepts.  In the specialization phase, students use Visual Basic .NET to design, debug, and implement programs for specific applications. 

Typical exploratory/foundation topic areas include:

• Pseudo-code and flowcharts

• Understanding data types

• Functions and operators

• Object orientated programming Decisions & case logic

 Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Program flow control methods

• Procedures and functions

• Classes and objects

• Visual inheritance

• Error handling and debugging

INVESTIGATING THE INTERNET 

This module provides students with an in-depth exploration of how the Internet functions.  It is designed to address the underpinning knowledge requirements for the CompTIA INET+ test.  The module covers the systems and organizations that make the Internet work and tools available to Internet users. 

Typical exploratory/foundation topic areas include:

• Network connectivity devices

• The structure of the Internet

• Control of the Internet

• Ecommerce concepts

• Internet business models

Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Internet Infrastructure

• On-line services

• Web development

• Search engines

• Cryptography and authentication

WORKING WITH THE INTERNET 

The Internet requires a range of skills that are explored in this module.  Students look at how the Internet works and how to use it effectively.  Topics include how Internet service provider operates, how search engines work, and how to create HTML web pages.  Other activities include managing web-based email and accessing newsgroups.

 Typical exploratory/foundation topic areas include:

• Introduction to the Internet

• Using links and searches

• Multimedia and the Internet

• HTTP and URL

• Browser and email security

 Typical specialization topic areas include:

• Search engines

• File transfer programs

• Archiving and file compression

• Viruses, patches, and update

• DNS and IP addresses