Reading and playing with ActionScript: My reading in Actionscript, The Definitive Guide has been okay so far. A little dry at times, but I'm already incorporating this new information into my working knowledge of basic AS and realizing better, cleaner, more efficient ways to achieve results in Flash.
I keep thinking about my project and itching to get going on it. Tonight I designed and coded a simple interaction to test out coloring objects by dragging one MC over another. Another parameter of this exercise is that no two house MCs should be the same color (outside of the default--gray). Instead of wasting my time hard-coding this as is, I'd prefer to write a nice function for all the MCs as I get further along in my reading (see interaction below).
I've also made a simple, non-functioning logic matrix for the project. While I'd like for this to be usable in Flash, I think that it should also be printable. This way, the user can print out a copy of the matrix/clues and work it out on paper. I definitely want my project to have life and wonder, making it a world to explore and play with, but without discouraging a user who is truly trying to solve the puzzle (well, maybe a little).
Last night's discussion on design was interesting. It's been awhile since I've actually discussed those kinds of things and nice to hear from such different perspectives. Relating the process to this project, I guess I initially am one to take a big task and break it down into manageable chunks. This isn't the zen of design, but the act of doing it and immersing myself in the art of creating puts me closer to the "mountain climber" analogy--focusing on what's in front of me with the knowledge of what's ahead and what's behind.
As to this journal. . . I may add some more to this entry later.
Papert Constructionism
Papert tells a great story about the students creating computer artwork of the first space shuttle. Motivated by their excitement for this great event, they all approach the project from different working points. Some carefully plan their approach, others jump right in and start building their images. The wonderful thing about constructionism is that it recognizes that people have their own approaches to learning, and it's okay that it's not the same as the next person's. I can identify with this story -- I'm more of the person who'll dive in to the part that I deem most interesting. But to compensate for my weaknesses in planning, I actually spent more time up front planning my approaches and doing my best to self-regulate my learning and active processes. I love the detail, I love getting so involved in a project that the rest of the world just drops away and my best work emerges. But I know that without covering all my bases and being sure to plan carefully, my best work may fail to be completed.
