Investigate Stage: Summative: Animate Me! Unit

Please respond to the following activities in MS word ensuring that it does not exceed 6 pages of font 12 Times New Roman. All responses should be in paragraphs with sub-headings for identification. Ensure that entries are made to process journal throughout the design cycle.

Introduction
Animation software has been used to produce cartoons and comics for different purposes. Many issues in our society have been addressed by communicating using animated comics and cartoons. We will therefore use animation software to create and examine it's impact in communications.
Our AOI on focus is Health and Social Education. Identify a problem linked to AOI and one client who is not a student.

Description of the problem. (200 words).
- Who have you identified as your client and why is she/he a suitable client?
- What is the problem to be addressed? Describe how the client is currently addresses the problem.
- Why do you think you client will need an IT solution to address the problem?

Design Brief:
The Design Brief is a short statement of what you are going to make, why you are going to make it, and for whom are you making it for. It should be an open ended statement.
• What will you create to address the problem identified above?
• Why do you think this is the best solution, compared to other solutions?
• What are the benefits/advantages to the client of creating the stated product?

Secondary Research
For our better understanding of animation software use, an indepth research should carried out. In your research, all sources must be written in the standard APA format of citation ( see examples of citations in http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_apa_format_examples.shtml )

I will expect to see the following sources for your research.
- 6 Internet sources.
- 4 Books sources.
- 2 Newspaper sources
- 4 Magazine sources.

Below are some areas of research expected. Each information obtained should be summarized or written as briefly as possible with sub-headings.

- Investigate the areas where where animations have been used and why they were used.

- Which animations softwares were used in which creating which cartoon movies (4).

- Which animated cartoon movie made the most money in 2010?

- Four animations examples created and used for the wrong purposes or have had a negative impact

- Four animations examples created and used for the right purposes or have had a positive impact.

- Name an animations created which conveyed the best message and what was the message conveyed and who created the animation?

- Brief summary of 3D animations software reviews by experts. Which is the best?

- Animations skills & techniques, and related terminologies


Primary Research Interview/ Questionnaire:
Part of data collection involves primary data collection. You will interview someone who has used an animated software and establish why animations are prefered or not prefered.
(Your interview document should have the following headings: Name of the interviewee, his/her position, place of interview and date)
- Identify the person to interview
- Develop 10 open ended questions that you will need to ask.
- Set an appointment and interview that person or use a questionnaire
- then write down all the responses from the interview process or summarize the responses from the questionaire.

Design Specification
Design specification describes the details of what the final product should have based on the clients problem.
What should a good animation have? - write short statements of the design specification that you want to see in our final anination created.

Test Strategy

-What tools will you use to test that the product is meeting the design specs standards?

-Describe briefly how the tools will be used.

Investigate Assessment criteria
0
-Failure to address the actual task set.
-The student has not handed in an investigation
-The student has not reached a standard described by any of the descriptors given below
1
-Little knowledge and ability in identifying the computer animation tools needed
-Hardly any attempt of research and analyse the problem (why is animation required, what makes animation great, etc)
- Test strategy and design specs in outlined in basic limited points.
-Lists a few sources, some of which may be irrelevant without in-text references.
2-3
-Some knowledge and ability in identifying and research of computer animation tools needed
-Signs of analysis of the problem (why animation is ideal, what makes animation great, etc)
- The design spec is briefly stated with some short statements on test strategy.
- Adequately acknowledges sources with a few in-text references.
4-5
- Good knowledge and ability in identifying most of the computer animation tools and animation terminologies
- Some clear analysis of the problem based on the research.( what makes animation great, etc)
- The design specs is clearly explained with a a clear explaination of the test strategy.
- Effectively acknowledges sources with properly used in-text references.
6
- Excellent knowledge and ability in identifying the computer animation tools available/needed
- High degree of analysis of the problem based on the researched information. (what makes animation great, etc)
- Thoroughly evalauted design specification with a thorough evalaution of test strategy.
- Consistently and clearly used in-text referencing with acknowledges sources in a Bibliography

Investigate Stage;Part B

Respond to the following questions in less than 2 pages.

ANIMATION

(a) FLASH TOOLS: Find out: “What the animation package (Flash MX 2010) is capable of?” and write your answers in a list. Example: An object can be rotated with a motion tween. (You will continue to add to this list later as you learn more about Flash).

( b) Compare any other FOUR animation softwares. You can use a table to do this.

(c) COMPUTERIZED ANIMATIONS: Brainstorm a list of: “What can Flash animations be used for?” Examples: -Advertising a product online -An Introduction to a web page.

(d) What techniques and styles have others used to animated cartoons? Watch the animations done by other students and artists. Describe features that make you like and dislike each animation you watch.

(e) What makes a great animation? Read what you wrote in Parts (a), (b), (c),(d).

Your Bibliography should have a minimum of 5 references written using APA Referencing standards.

Animate Me! Unit

Unit tile: Animate Me!:

Unit Question: What is the impact of using animation software in creating cartoons and comics for communication?

AOI:
Health Social Eudcation: How can we create animations to address health and social issues in our society?

AK Strand
Global economics:

How has the use animation software transformed the cartoons production industry?

Write down any other five guiding questions that you will need answer to as we cover the unit.
.
.
.
By the end of the unit, you will be expected to answer two main questions:

How are animations created?

How do I create animations to communicate virtal health and social issues of our of society?

•An animation is a good way to get people, especially young people and visual learners, to
be interested in something like a piece of information.

•An animation is easier to create if it is well planned and broken down into smaller, more
manageable steps. We will follow “the Design Cycle” in creating our animations.

•The questions to answer in your CT class are:

'What are the main features of my animation software?
AND
'How can I visually communicate my topic of interest in my created animation?

Investigate Stage : Part A

To understand and to create animations we will need first to understand how images are processed in the computer. Research and provide relevant examples on the following. Email this to serem@yahoo.com in a maximum of two pages. Show your references in APA format.

• What is binary? and give examples

• What is a BIT? Give examples of this

• What is BYTE? Provide examples

• What is a PIXEL ? provide some examples

• What is resolution of images?

• What is dpi? Give any practical example

• Distinguish between morphing and Tweening? Look for examples of software that tweens and one that morphs and use them.

Evaluate Stage:Songsmith

You are expected to evaluate the product/solution against the design specification in an objective manner based on testing, and to evaluate its impact on life, society and/or the environment.

You are expected to explain how the product/solution could be improved as a result of these evaluations.

As students, you are expected to evaluate your own performance at each stage of the design cycle and to suggest ways in which your performance could be improved.(Maximum 3 pages, Times New Roman font, 12 pt font size, Your name in the footer)

Please use the questions as a guide to your evaluate stage.

-How did you perform in each stage of the design cycle? What were your strengths and what were your weakness?

-What are some of the improvements that you would make to your product following the feedback from testing?

- what were the views of the client?

- Which stage of the design cycle did you perform well and which stage did you perform poorly and what were your reasons?

- Reflect on one the area of interaction linked to this project:

Assessment Criteria

0 : The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below.

1-2 :The student attempts to evaluate the music produced and his/her own performance. The student makes some attempt to test the product created.

3-4: The student to a greater extend evaluates the music produced and his or her own performance and suggests ways in which these could be improved. The student tests the product to evaluate it against the design specification

5-6: The student evaluates the success of the music produced in an objective manner based on the results of testing, and the views of the intended users. The student provides an evaluation of his or her own performance at each stage of the design cycle and suggests improvements. The student provides an appropriate evaluation of the impact of the product and or solution on life, society and or the environment.

Create Stage:Songsmith

The final created product should meet your design specs; We expect ;

• Lyrics included
• music to last as specified in the design specification
• include the various styles and techniques available in the software
• submitt the final product in a CD
• The CD labelled appropriately
• Modification, testing and any other challenges recorded in the process jouranl

Assessment criteria

0 : The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below.

1-2:The student considers the plan and creates a simple song using very few styles and techniques from the software.

3-4:The student uses appropriate styles and techniques available in the software in the proudction of the music. The student follows the plan and mentions any modifications made in the process journal. The resulting music produced is of good quality and it is burned on a CD and labelled correctly.

5-6: The student competently uses styles and techniques in the software appropriately in the music production. The student follows the plan and justifies any modifications made in the process journal. The resulting music produced is of appropriate quality and it's burned on a CD and labelled appropriately.

Plan Stage: Songsmith Unit.

Develop a plan using any appropriate planning tool of your choice. Using your planning tool ensure the following are provided;

• Brief description of what is going to happen
• Decription of the tools or ideas used in achieving the individual task and why?
• The duration of the task or activity any why?
• Mentions persons involved at any stage and why?

The planning tool should be in exactly two pages, landscape paper orientation, New Times Roman font style used and font size 12. Print and submit before the set midnight deadline.

Below are some activities that must be in your plan: Getting and install software, testing the product, writing the lyrics, recording, editing, improvements, burning in a CD.

Evaluation of the Plan

You will then evaluate the planning and justify the modification to the designs.

• What are the strengths and limitations of using the choosen planning tool.
• What modifications where made to the original music designs and why?

This should be in exactly one page and all information in paragraphs, New Times Roman style, font size 12 used, and your name page numberss in the footer. Email the evaluation of the plan to me by the set deadline.

The Assessment Rubric
0: The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below.

1-2: The student has identified and used a simple planning tool that contains sketchy details of the steps and/or the resource required.

3-4: The student has identified and used an appropriate planning tool that contains a number of logical steps that include resources, reasons and time. The student makes some attempt to evaluate the plan.

5-6: The student has identified and used the best suitable planning tool that contains a number of detailed, logical steps that describe the use of resources and time. The student critically evaluates the plan and justifies any modifications to the design.

Design Assessment Rubric

0 : The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below

1-2: The student generates one or two designs of music software demo using basic or limited techniques. The comparison between the software is superficial and makes little attempt to justify this against the design specification.

3-4:The student generates two music demos applying some of the inbuilt styles and techniques appropriately. The student explains the strength, limitations and similarities of software used. The student justifys the choice of one music design and fully explains this against the design specification.

5-6:The student generates two music demos applying most of the styles and techniques in each skillfully. Each used software is discussed in terms of strengths and weaknesses against the design specification. A justification is done for the final choice with a more extensive and critical discussion (strengths and weaknesses) against the design specification.