Flash MX Learning Studio

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant concept
Review: Flash MX Learning Studio
Ethan Wattral

Published by Sybex...

ISBN: 0-7821-4180-3

I would give this package 5 stars, it certainly works for me anyway.

This is another in the new line of learning-made-simple using the Sybex "Savvy" line of books. Having the CDROM based on the book "Flash MX Savvy" added to the package has made this even better.

I have already reviewed this book and found it to be excellent.....

Once opened in your CD player, you can just leave it running while carrying on working in Flash, even after you have put the book down.

It provides a very good source of easily understood information and walk-throughs. These are broken into 7 categories for easy learning.

1. Creating visuals steps you through the basic steps of animating and is further broken down into different aspects of selection, grouping etc.

2. Animation comes next and this introduces the concepts of working with timelines and movie clips.

3. Intro to ActionScripting is really useful as this is what can make or break an animation and allow interactivity with your movie.

4. ActionScript for interactivity takes your basic skills in ActionScript to new levels, and like al the sections has been further broken down into another 5 sub sections.

5. Working with audio is really useful as this has been a problem, or at least difficult to do in the past. MX makes this easier, but understanding what to do is a great help.

6. Using other tools helps understand how to integrate Flash into Director, Freehand, audio software and 3D.

7. Publishing Flash is next, and this, once again is an important aspect when file size and bandwidth are concerned.

8. The referenced section contains what you expect from it, plus it has all the keyboard shortcuts.

9. Lastly there is the Hands On section and this is where you get to practice your skills, aided by video of the lessons/

Most of the descriptions are in slide show format using screen shots, which is supported by sound where applicable, and the lessons are step-through if you don't want to watch the whole thing.

There are some special video sections, using Flash, that take you through making some movies using the familiarity that you have built up using the preceding lessons. By all means look at these early on, but they will not have the impact that will come after stepping through the rest of the manual.

As a learning tool for those who do better by using visuals and sound, sooner than reading a manual, this is definitely the way to go. Obviously the slide shows don't contain the same amount of information as the book, but they do make you click on things so you learn to work in a sensible order, and then a lot of the written work makes a bit more sense.

Teaching is really about being shown how to do something, and then following explained principles to find out how to do anything associated with that process. Books on their own are great, even with the CD-ROMS that are included, but I feel that it isn't the same as this type of learning.

For a start, the CDROM attached to a book is just a set of lessons, and it is easy to skip past stuff when you don't understand, but this CDROM is done in such a way as to make sense of what you are doing quickly. It is just like having a help file open with interactive pictures instead of just words.

Once you learn where to find the answers, you don't have many problems that you can't solve, and that is where the strength of this package lies.

You may only need a small part of the jigsaw to solve the whole thing, and with the 700 page book added, then you don't need to look much further for any answers.

Bottom Line.

As the complete learning tool, and help and assistance for problem solving, you will really need to go a long way to find a better package.

I firmly believe that this is the way that good manuals for software will have to be produced from now on. As long as the book is good for it's purpose, and the quality of the CDROM is kept up, then there is a market for this sort of package.

Once a book has been written, then the making of something like this is not that difficult, as it uses screen shots that apply to the book. Therein lies it's strength. If the screen shots don't work, then the book doesn't either, and in this case they both go together really well.

Tim Skyrme...

Rating:
Summary: Super Cool Tool...
Review: I've got to admit, I was a little skeptical about plunking down [money] for Flash MX Learning Studio. Boy, was I glad that I did. First off, it comes with the book Flash MX Savvy...which would normally cost you [money] to buy. Secondly, the actual interactive training CD is absolutely incredible.

You can sit and watch tutorial movies...and then try out the techniques you just watched - all within the CDs learning environment. Its a perfect tool for those who learn software by watching things being done - instead of just reading about the techniques.

Flash MX Learning Studio is worth its weight in gold! Buy it and you'll see.