Complete parts 1 through 4 of the Authorware Tutorial in Taking the Plunge: Macromedia Authorware Version 3. When you have finished the tutorial, write two paragraphs describing the most important instructional strengths and drawbacks of the tutorial. The purpose of this assignment is to become familiar with the most powerful (multimedia) features of Authorware for instruction.
Check out the Taking the Plunge manual from the Computer Resources Lab monitors’ desk. Work on any Power Macintosh computer in N186, N106, or N153 that has Authorware version 3.5 on it. Do not take the tutorial manual out of the computer labs area. Follow the directions in the tutorial starting on page 29. You will begin by creating a new file and opening the Words Library in Authorware. The file Words Library should be in the Tutorial folder. Section 1 of the tutorial is on pages 29 to 44. Section 2 is on pages 45 to 53. Section 3 is on pages 54 to 74. Section 4 is on pages 75 to 93. At the end of each section save your work to your own diskette or to your private folder on the network. Name the files with your name and Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 (for example, the first file could be named something like “Klein Part 1”). The four sections build upon one another. Follow the directions carefully, especially at the beginning of each section. After finishing the tutorial, write two paragraphs (no more than one page) describing, in one paragraph, the most important strengths of the tutorial for instruction and, in the other paragraph, its most significant drawbacks. Base your analysis on Chapter Two of Alessi & Trollip.
Hand in a large campus mail envelope with either your diskette or a sheet of paper telling me which private student folder on the network contains your assignment. Also include the strengths and drawbacks page in the envelope. Your name should be on the envelope, on the diskette, and/or on the sheets of paper. Always put your name on anything you give me.
Follow directions very carefully in the tutorial. The instructions are very precise. If you skip a step or do it wrong, things will get confusing. As with the first assignment, try to resolve problems yourself before asking for help. Also, remember that you can see Bryan during his office hours in the lab for individual help. Be sure you understand what you are doing. If any part of the tutorial doesn’t make sense, please come see me or Bryan. The TAs in the lab may be able to help with some questions but don’t depend on it, though they should be able to help with technical questions, such as how to start Authorware, how to save, and where the tutorial files are located. In addition to the tutorial Taking the Plunge, there are several copies of the book Using Authorware at the Computer Lab Monitors’ desk. It should not be taken out of the lab. This book teaches most components of Authorware and you should make use of it. Also available from the Computer Lab Monitors’ desk is the book Authorware Reference which contains details of all Authorware features. It is more difficult to learn from, but good if you want to look up particular details. All these references, as well as Taking the Plunge, are usually checked out together in a box. You’ll need your student ID.