Final Project: Hall of U.S. Presidents: 20th and 21st Century

.fla File

.swf File

Project Plan

Design

My goal for the final project was to create an online digital collection of U.S. Presidents of the 20 th and 21 st centuries (with the ability to add more information and presidents at a later date). Last year I created a digital library of Presidents for L552: Audio and Video Information Sources and Delivery. This flash project is intended for learning purposes and as an additional part of the digital library. It could be used for students who are studying presidents. To view the digital library, go to: Digital Library of Presidents

Visual Plan/Story Board

1. Introduction to the Hall of Presidents: Elements on the screen: President's boarder, welcome text, enter button.

2. Hall of Presidents: Elements on the screen: President's boarder, and button choices (biographies, timeline, and quiz).

3. Quiz: Elements on the screen: questions - static text, Answers – buttons (incorrect and correct), and feedback – dynamic text.

4. Timeline: Elements on the screen: create movie timelines (4 separate) in chronological order.

5. Biographies: Elements on the screen: Pictures, bio text, and buttons (connect to websites).

Features

Here is a list of some of the features in the project:

• Static and Dynamic Text – I used static text for the majority of this project. Dynamic text was used for the feedback part of the presidential quiz.
• Graphics – I used pictures of the presidents as graphics (Theodore Roosevelt through George W. Bush).
• Layers – I created layers for multiple items: presidential boarders, text, quiz layers, pictures, and actions.
• Animation – I created a timeline section that I turned into movie clips that scroll across the screen
• Interaction – I created interaction with the navigation system I set up with different buttons such as next, back, return to hall of presidents, return to home, and websites. I also created a presidential quiz that has interactive buttons.
• Actionscript – I used Actionscript to navigate the project, give feedback with dynamic text, and stop at specific frames.
• Behaviors – I used behaviors to connect to websites like Internet Public Library, Vincent Voice Library, and Whitehouse.gov.
• Multimedia – I used sound files. One is a mouse click that plays when a person clicks a button, and the other is the star spangled banner song playing in the background.

User Interface

Here is a summary about user interface:

I think this entire flash project can be used by students at the elementary/early junior high level (depending on when states have students study the presidents). I made the timeline simple and easy to follow. I thought the quiz, although somewhat tough would help kids learn more about the presidents, and the biography section provides quick fact and links to reliable websites.

As for accessibility issues, Flash is not compatible with most screen readers. However, since I have the digital library, it meets accessibility standards. Flash would be the secondary focus while the digital library would be the primary focus of the overall project on presidents.

Formative Evaluations

I conducted three evaluations: a teacher, a library employee, and a mother. I thought these people would be good candidates to test the project first in order to see if they approved of the information and how it is delivered. Next, I would like to have students test the flash project along with the digital library.

My friend, Katie, who is a social studies teacher made some comments/suggestions:

• Keep track of quiz score
• Nice design/easy to navigate
• Liked the moving timeline
• Make next and back buttons into arrows
• Add information on other presidents

My co-worker, Stephanie, at the library

• Good resources used
• Liked the song playing in the background
• Wanted me to include more information on the other presidents
• Liked how the colors were similar to the digital library that goes with it.

My mother, Pat

• Timeline was too slow (I thought it was good for the age group).
• Add scrollbar to the timeline
• Include other presidents

Convincing Argument

I thought the use of flash to study presidents was a good idea, and can make a great asset to the digital library. Students could look at the digital library and then take the flash quiz or look at the animated timeline. Even though this flash project stands alone, I could eventually incorporated specific aspects such as the timeline into the website. At some point, students have to study the U.S. Presidents, so it might as well be fun and interactive while they do it! I also think flash is a good way to take a large amount of information, and organize it into a project that the majority of people can use.