Tweens for Teens: A Beginner's Guide to Animation

Project URL: http://teachers.ithsnyc.org/hruan/TeachNet/

How it works:
This unit is designed for middle and high school students. Basic computer skills and some understanding about web design are required. This unit introduces students to some basic tools to create animation for their web projects using Photoshop and Flash. It improves their artistic skills in design and makes their projects more attractive and exciting. Topics covered are: the use of layers in Photoshop; how layers are used in animation; how movies are made; and the special uses of Flash. One 50-minutes class period is allotted for each lesson, and four periods are needed to complete the unit. Students are assessed by their class work, assignments, and projects. A rubric will also be used to evaluate student work.

Standards addressed:  
Students read and write for information using different media; apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products; develop skills with a variety of art materials, and competence in at least one medium (electronic); and use the computer and other electronic media as designing tools and to communicate visual ideas.

Materials used:
Computers with Internet access, Adobe Photoshop, and Macromedia Flash are required.

The students:
Tweens for Teens provides step-by-step tutorials, so students work at their own pace and can also access the site from home or the library. The visual screenshots help ESL students to follow directions as well.

Overall value:
Animation is an exciting topic for students. The techniques introduced here are easy to follow. Students create their own animation for all kinds of web applications and projects. It sparks their imagination and taps into previously undiscovered artistic sensibilities.

Tips: 
Include all necessary steps in your instruction. Have the students who pick it up quickly teach others.  If you are combining this unit with another curricular topic, create your own examples to use as demonstration pieces. 

About the teacher:
Henry Ruan teaches at Lower East Side Preparatory High School. He has been involved in web design projects with his students since 1997 and has won several citywide web design competitions, including ThinkQuest NYC. He has also conducted web design workshops at national and state level educational conferences. His passion is making his teaching more meaningful for students.

E-mail: 
henryruan@hotmail.com

Subject Areas:                            
Arts
Technology

Grade Levels: 
8-12