Introduction

If you remember, there are many different types of media that can be used in multimedia. The most common of these elements is text. With most programs, blocks of text can either be imported from an external file or created right in the authoring program. In addition, text can be formatted using different styles, fonts, sizes, and colors. The methods for performing these functions are different depending on the program you are using. There are also various methods used to display the text. Some programs work similar to a word processor and arrange the text in lines. Other programs work more like a desktop publishing program and arrange text in boxes that can be moved around the screen.

For this first competency we'd like for you to play around with your program's various ways of creating and displaying text. Depending on the authoring software you are using, here are some topics we recommend that you explore. Tutorials are available at LinkedIn Learning. Their tutorials dealing with these topics may cover more than just the formatting and arranging of text, so don't worry if you pick up extra skills along the way. Also, keep in mind that the names of the tutorials in LinkedIn Learning may differ slightly depending on which set of tutorials you are using.

PowerPoint Working with Slide Text and Bullet Lists
Formatting Slide Text and Checking Spelling
Dreamweaver Defining a Web Site
Creating a Simple Web Page
Importing and Formatting Text
Paragraph Formatting
Flash Creating Text Blocks and Text Fields
Converting Text into Shapes
Other programs Creating interactivity with interactions

Text Activity

When you feel comfortable with the text capabilities of your program, we'd like for you to demonstrate your ability to format and display various types of text. Using your authoring program, create two different blocks of text. Use the following guidelines when creating the two blocks:

  • Each block of text should have a unique heading that is a larger size than the body text underneath it.
  • Each heading should be in a different font.
  • Each heading should be in a different color than the body text, and a different color from each other.
  • One of the headings should be italicized.
  • One of the blocks of text should include a bulleted list of items.
  • The two blocks of text should be scattered around the screen, not lined up vertically or horizontally.

Finally, include your name somewhere on the screen.

Submitting your Activity

Save this activity in your program's native file format. Name the file "text". Depending on the program you are using, you will end up with one of the following types of files:

  • Flash - fla (text.fla)
  • PowerPoint - ppt or pptx (text.ppt or text.pptx)
  • Dreamweaver - htm or html (text.htm or text.html)
  • Other programs - swf or other supported export formats (text.swf)

After you have saved the file, go to the student interface and submit your assignment for grading. Click here if you need additional information regarding submission of your assignment.

Assignment:Text Activity
Points:
5

Grading Criteria:

  • Screen includes two distinct blocks of text.
  • Each block of text has a unique heading that is a larger size than the body text underneath it.
  • Each heading is in a different font.
  • Each heading is in a different color than the body text, and a different color from each other.
  • One of the headings is italicized.
  • One of the blocks of text includes a bulleted list of items.
  • The two blocks of text are not lined up vertically or horizontally.
  • Student's name included somewhere on the screen.