Analysis
Animation and Modeling
The Case Studies section consists of three Case Studies, each ranging in size from 4 to 18 questions. Each tutorial question is fill-in-the-blank. The correct response is supplied in the feedback. No responses are evaluated for grading. Navigation forward requires the user to write in some form of answer and click the Submit button for feedback, and then the NextPage button is enabled. There is no Previous/Page functionality. Some of the Case Study questions were linked to additional materials through the LearnMore button.
The Main Menu of the Case Studies Tutorial includes eight buttons:
- Case Study 1: loads Case Study 1 module in current window
- Case Study 2: loads Case Study 2 module in current window
- Case Study 3: loads Case Study 3 module in current window
- Muscles / Nerves: opens new window with Muscles / Nerves Table
- Muscles / Actions: opens new window with Muscles / Actions Table
- Quiz: opens new window with Evaluations Survey. Last page of survey has link to Quiz requiring login.
- Normal Eye Movements: opens two new windows, normal eye movement video and illustration of cardinal positions of gaze.
- Eye Movement Animations: opens new window with 3D model of eye musculature and eye muscle animations.
The Eye Movement Animations includes top, side and front view of right eye with muscles lableled. The animations include at least one view of seven different individual muscle movements and eight different conjugate eye movements.
The Quiz consists entirely of multiple choice questions. The user is prompted to Try Again until they choose the correct response, forcing everyone to get 100% correct choices. The User can log in an unlimited number of times. The Quiz is preceeded by a voluntary Evaluation Survey.
In the original design, the Ppt/Breeze Plugin was to be used for the Case Studies Tutorial section. Ppt/Breeze Plugin was scrapped when it became nearly impossible to add a LearnMore button linking to additional learning materials. It became a difficult exercise in Powerpoint to include all the LearnMore links as Powerpoint slides.
Instead, the Flash eLearning Component was used with the Reports page disabled. The eLearning components can be published in a SCORM environment, allowing for the capture of interactions and reporting of data, within a compliant Learning Management System.
One major disappointment with the Flash eLearning Component was the inablility for us to create a PreviousPage button allowing the user to return to previously answered questions. The advantage of using the component is the ability to publish as SCORM compliant.
The Ppt/Breeze Plugin was used for the Evaluation Survey and the Quiz, and covered all the requirements.
Recommendations for Scripting and Programming Methods:
- document the limitations of Ppt/Breeze Plugin, including, but not limited to:
- inability to add links to other learning materials outside the Ppt presentation
- still difficult to format and make changes consistently
- determine SCORM campatibility and interface with LMS
- document the benefits, including, but not limited to:
- easy enough to learn for tech-savvy instructors to build their own quizzes
- working within limitations is fast and easy to publish
- ability to capture results for reports
The 3D Model of eye musculature was accomplished using Maya. Source reference material was not provided by the client, but came from our own library of anatomy reference books. The model textures were limited to Maya shaders with the exception of an imported Photoshop file used as bump map for muscle striations. The pupil was a ramp with Maya fractals used in two of the color nodes. This reduced rendering time to a minimum. Mental Ray was used for the rendering.
Originally, the idea was to create an interactive 3D model, with animating parts, displayed with a VRML player. This proved to be more ambitious than time allowed. Instead, it was decided to show at least one camera view of the individual muscle animations and conjugate eye movement animations.
The animations were exported from Maya as Quicktime movies, imported to After Effects for muscle highlights, then compressed using Sorenson Squeeze to .flv format and imported into Flash.
Recommendations for Graphics and Animation Methods:
- get completed content before beginning production
- communicate and focus on the importance of approving models before beginning animation
- evaluate clients for technological experience when partnering on animation and modeling projects
- continue to use Maya for models and illustrations because the unique flexibilty and powerful tools make it quick and easy to make more adaptive to changes than traditional illustration methods
The Content Creation was provided entirely by the client. It did not come in according to any production schedule and was changed several times during the production. Some of the content changes required reworking of the scripting strategies and re-evaluating some of the Scripting and Graphics Methods.
The approval of 3D Models was premature and all the animations were made based on an inaccurate model. By the time the inaccuracy was discovered, it was too late to make the animations again for the delivery date. The animations will be replaced as they become available.
The Work Flow, once content was completed and models were properly approved, was uneventful. The Quiz and Case Studies Tutorial work was divided between two Producers and required a minimum amount of time from a Programmer to set up the Quiz on the Flash server.