ProLecture
A Macromedia Flash MX e-Learning
Application
Utilizing Flash Communication Server 1.5
Online web-based e-Learning Application
Executive Summary
Working with the University of La Verne's Instructional
Technology Center, I have seen many virtual classroom
applications that are used by our sister department, the
Distance and Online Learning Center. Moreover, I have
had first-hand experience with all of them and I have
seen their advantages and disadvantages. I found that
their weaknesses outweighed their benefits. My goal for
this prototype research project is to create an
application that will eliminate most, if not all,
possible weaknesses that were presented in the heading
Construction with subheading Current Systems.
After a little more than 3 months, I have completed
ProLecture, the future prototype application that
eliminates the inefficiencies of the current available
systems that are in used by the Distance and Online
Learning Center. Some of the more prominent features
included in the final version were the abilities to
stream video, audio and PowerPoint presentation.
ProLecture will make it possible for the instructor or
trainer to communicate with the students more
effectively with the latest available technology.
ProLecture was created with the users in mind; and
therefore, it is as user friendly as possible to
minimize users' time and effort when it comes to
learning how to use the application. ProLecture was
designed and implemented using Macromedia Flash MX and
the new server technology of Flash Communication Server
version 1.5. Graphics were conceptualized and designed
with Adobe Photoshop and Flash MX's own vector tools.
The reason I chose Flash as the developer tool is
because of its ability to create a small footprint
end-product that can be executed and run on any type of
computer and operating system. Furthermore, according to
the heading Construction, subheading Proposed
System, the current percentage of Flash Player
plug-in penetration on Web users is as high as 98%.
Flash Communication Server 1.5 was my choice for the
server due to its inherent capability to communicate
with Flash application effectively. ActionScript is the
language that I used in order to program the
communications between the client side and the server
side of Flash Communication Server. The language is a
derivative of JavaScript; it is not as powerful as a
high-level language such as C/C++, but nonetheless, it
is very powerful for what I needed to do.
Full Paper (PDF) will be added soon.
ProLecture
A Macromedia Flash MX e-Learning Application
Utilizing Flash Communication Server 1.5
Online web-based e-Learning Application
Executive Summary
Working with the University of La Verne's Instructional Technology Center, I have seen many virtual classroom applications that are used by our sister department, the Distance and Online Learning Center. Moreover, I have had first-hand experience with all of them and I have seen their advantages and disadvantages. I found that their weaknesses outweighed their benefits. My goal for this prototype research project is to create an application that will eliminate most, if not all, possible weaknesses that were presented in the heading Construction with subheading Current Systems.
Flash Communication Server 1.5 was my choice for the
server due to its inherent capability to communicate
with Flash application effectively. ActionScript is the
language that I used in order to program the
communications between the client side and the server
side of Flash Communication Server. The language is a
derivative of JavaScript; it is not as powerful as a
high-level language such as C/C++, but nonetheless, it
is very powerful for what I needed to do.
After a little more than 3 months, I have completed ProLecture, the future prototype application that eliminates the inefficiencies of the current available systems that are in used by the Distance and Online Learning Center. Some of the more prominent features included in the final version were the abilities to stream video, audio and PowerPoint presentation. ProLecture will make it possible for the instructor or trainer to communicate with the students more effectively with the latest available technology.
ProLecture was created with the users in mind; and therefore, it is as user friendly as possible to minimize users' time and effort when it comes to learning how to use the application. ProLecture was designed and implemented using Macromedia Flash MX and the new server technology of Flash Communication Server version 1.5. Graphics were conceptualized and designed with Adobe Photoshop and Flash MX's own vector tools. The reason I chose Flash as the developer tool is because of its ability to create a small footprint end-product that can be executed and run on any type of computer and operating system. Furthermore, according to the heading Construction, subheading Proposed System, the current percentage of Flash Player plug-in penetration on Web users is as high as 98%.