ITMA Studio > Portfolio > 6: My Multimedia Instructional Program

Component 6: My Multimedia Instructional Program

• Outcome(s) the program is designed to facilitate must be clearly stated and well-written.
• Context: Meaningful, purposeful context must be established; context role (orienting, instructional, transfer) clearly identified.
• Components: Appropriate instructional design components must be developed for context type.
• Conditions: Appropriate strategies and conditions must be developed for outcome type(s).
• Message Display: Instructional messages and program usability must conform to appropriate standards.
• Multimedia program MUST employ audio, video, and some type of animation, and it must do so effectively.

This component has no subcomponents. The "Program" page of your portfolio should contain links to any instructional programs you have completed within or outside of the ITMA program.

Tools

Image Editing/Paint Programs

• Adobe Photoshop - The most popular graphics program for Windows and Macintosh. If you can afford it, this is the one graphics program to have. Current versions also include ImageReady, which allows you to optimize files, as well as create slices, mouseovers, and animated GIFs. Tryout versions available.
• Paint Shop Pro - Another popular Windows graphics program - similar to Photoshop but cheaper. Trial version available.
• PhotoLine - Nice image editing program available for both Windows and Macintosh. Similar features to Photoshop. Shareware version available.
• PhotoImpact - Another popular image editing program for Windows - this one also contains an assortment of features geared to web designers. Trial version available.
• Ultimate Paint - Yet another really nice image editing program for Windows - this one is shareware, and there's also a freeware version.
• PhotoStudio - This Windows image editing program features a large assortment of tools and effects. Trial version available, and the full version is reasonably priced.
• The Gimp - Awesome Windows image editing program with Photoshop-like features. The difference is that The Gimp is free.
• Rainbow Painter - Image editing program for the Macintosh. Shareware version available.

Other Graphics Programs - For optimizing files and creating animated GIFs, mouseovers, and buttons.

• Clipart.com - Not really a "tool", but a good site to visit if you are looking for ready-made graphics for your web site.
• GIF Construction Set - Windows program that allows you to create animated GIF files - like this: 
• GIF Builder - Popular program for creating animated GIF files on the Macintosh.
• Graphic Workshop Professional - A graphics viewing and converting program for Windows. It converts images between many different formats. Shareware version available.
• Imagery - A free graphics viewing and converting program for the Macintosh.
• GraphicConverter - Another good graphic conversion program for the Macintosh, this one with some extra features.
• Image Optimizer - This Windows program allows you to optimize the file sizes of the images you use on your web pages. This results in smaller file sizes and shorter download times. Trial version available.
• SmartSaver Pro - Another Windows optimization program that also does image slicing and mouseovers. Trial version available.
• Ignite - This Windows program optimizes images, but it also lets you create mouseovers and animated GIFs. Trial version available.
• Xara 3D - This cool Windows program creates high-quality 3D graphics for your web pages, such as titles and buttons. Trial version available.
• 3D Magic - Another Windows program for creating 3D titles for your web site. Trial version available.
• Xara WebStyle - This is a template-based utility for creating web graphics such as custom buttons, banners, bullets, dividers, backgrounds and 2D and 3D headings. Trial version available.
• Applet Button Factory - This Windows program creates Java buttons and mouseovers without learning Java programming. Shareware version available.
• Button Artist - Simple Windows program for creating simple buttons. Free to download.
• Buttons - Cool Macintosh program that enables you to easily create buttons and backgrounds for your web pages. Shareware version available.

Sound Recording and Editing

• Sound Forge XP - Excellent Windows program for recording and editing sound files. This is a lower-priced personal version of the full-featured Sound Forge program. Demo available.
• Sound Edit 16 - Popular Macintosh program for recoding and editing sound files.
• Cool Edit - Syntrillium has several versions of this Windows audio editing program at varying prices. Shareware version available.
• SndSampler - Great, inexpensive sound recording and editing program for the Macintosh. Shareware version available.
• Sound Studio - Another good shareware sound editing program for the Macintosh.

Instructional Design and Development

• Designer's Edge - Designer's Edge is an integrated software package that leads you through the Instructional Design process. It helps you write goals and objectives, generate forms and reports, and generate storyboards. The site allows you to download an evaluation copy to try out. Windows only.
• Hot Potatoes - This is a great utility that generates interactive online quizzes - including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and others.
• Inspiration - This diagramming program is used by many educators to help students develop ideas and organize thinking. It also works great for flowcharts and instructional analyses.
• Authorware - Macromedia product for creating multi-media training and learning applications.
• Director - Another Macromedia product, this one for combining graphics, sound, animation, text, and video to create multi-user, interactive content.
• HyperStudio - Popular presentation tool, with advanced features that enable you to create interactive learning applications.

Tutorials

Image Editing/Paint Programs

• Introduction to Adobe Photoshop - A great tutorial for the most popular program for creating and modifying images.
• Learning Photoshop - Provides a nice overview of the Photoshop interface. Good for beginners.
• Introduction to Photoshop - A pdf file that provides a brief introduction to some of Photoshop's basic tools. This tutorial requires the following three images ( download them to your computer - in Windows right-click on each one, on the Mac click and hold): Image 1, Image 2, Image 3.
• Photoshop Crash Course - Another great Photoshop tutorial.
• Photoshop Tutorials - A series of tutorials from Adobe.
• Robin's Photoshop Links - If you get serious about Photoshop, then lose yourself in this list of web sites.
• Introduction to Paint Shop Pro - Tutorial for this popular graphics program.
• Paint Shop Pro Tips and Tutorials - Numerous tips and tutorials from JascSoftware, the creators of the program.
• Robin's Paint Shop Pro Resources - A treasure trove of tutorials and other resources about Paint Shop Pro.
• PhotoLine Tips - Tips for using this program can be found on the program's web site.
• PhotoImpact Tutorials - Ulead has quite a few tutorials available for their program.
• PhotoImpact Tutorials and Resources - This site has a lot of tutorials - from basic to advanced - as well as many other resources related to this program.
• PhotoImpact Tutorials - A long list of tutorials for this popular program.
• Ultimate Paint Tutorial - The makers of this program have a few tips on their site.
• PhotoStudio Tutorials - Nice PDF tutorials from the makers of this program.

Other Graphics Tutorials

• Clipart.com - There are numerous web sites that have clip art for you to download. This is a good one to get you started. It's a great way to obtain ready-made graphics for your web site.
• Webmonkey Graphics - Lots of articles on graphics, fonts and animation.
• GIF Animation Refresher - Tutorial on building animated GIFs.
• Making Animated GIFs - Takes you through the steps in creating an animated GIF. Relevant no matter which animation program you use.
• Animated GIFs - A collection of Animated GIF resources from CNET.
• Animated GIF Artists Guild - Information and tutorials on animated GIFs.

Sound Recording and Editing

• What is a .wav File? - Overview of .wav files, and how to find and download them.
• Making Original Sound - A quick tutorial on using the Window's Sound Recorder to record your own .wav files.
• Wav Sound Recording - A brief primer on recording .wav files on a PC. Covers setup procedures, Windows Sound Recorder, Cool Edit, and RealAudio.
• Basic Editing in Sound Forge - Nice tutorial from the makers of Sound Forge.
• SoundEdit 16 Tutorial - This tutorial takes you from the basics to the more advanced.
• SoundEdit 16 for Students - A short tutorial on the basics of SoundEdit 16.
• Enhancing Your Digital Audio - This tutorial shows how to use your sound recording program to enhance the quality of your sound files.

Instructional Design

• Models for Instructional Design - Provides an introduction to the instructional design process and introduces various design models.
• TIP Database - This site contains brief summaries of 50 major theories of learning and instruction.
• Instructional Design Models - A large page of links related to different instructional design models.
• Understanding Objectives - Excellent tutorial on writing objectives. If you are creating instruction this site deserves a visit.
• Objectives Tutorial - A short tutorial on how to write objectives.
• Getting Started Tutorial for Designer's Edge - This pdf document covers the basics of Designer's Edge.

Instructional Development

• Director Documentation - Macromedia has downloadable versions of their Director documentation, which include tutorials.
• Director Overview - Director is a complex program, but this site provides a nice overview of Director basics.
• Director Tutorials - These tutorials cover some of the more advanced features in Director, and provide good practice activities.
• Director Tutorial 1 - Part one of a two-part tutorial on Director. Lots of good graphics.
• Director Tutorial 2 - Part two of the two-part tutorial on Director.
• Director Tutorials - A series of excellent tutorials that take you from the basic to the advanced.
• Authorware Documentation - Macromedia has downloadable versions of their Authorware documentation, which include tutorials.
• Authorware Tutorial - Macromedia also has an online tutorial that covers the basic concepts of Authorware. Requires the Authorware Web Player plug-in.
• Authorware Tutorial - Another good tutorial covering the basics of Authorware.
• HyperStudio Online Tutorial - Basic tutorial on HyperStudio. 
• HyperStudio Tutorials - A set of basic tutorials on HyperStudio.