Capstone Opening Presentation

Creating animations for applications and the web has always been a challenge for animators and motion graphics artists. This is due to factors such as bandwidth, complex programing syntax, and the capabilities of web browsers and devices.
 
However new frameworks have emerged that allow animators and motion graphics artists to focus on what they do best, while still being able to deliver assets that developers need. As a result, it is important for animators and motion graphics artists to have hands on knowledge of how to work within these frameworks.

The course aims to empower learners with the technical skills necessary in order to control an animation that was created that in Adobe After Effects with the Lottie web framework. Through course materials, examples, exercises and discussions, students will develop the confidence to work with this framework while also showcasing their own creativity.
 
The course is broken out into 3 weeks, with each week having reading materials, an exercise, and a discussion. Each week will focus on achieving a single terminal objective:
1. Plan a multiple state animation (at least 3 states).
2. Animate at least 3 states.
3. Incorporate the Lottie web framework to control the animation states. 

The course combines elements of andragogy, constructivism, social constructivism and connectivism. The course’s online delivery, use of online examples, project based assessments, discussions and focus on a specific topic align with these theories.
 
Andragogy:
Learners enrolled in the course would be self-motivated and will bring their own prior experience with animation to the course. They will be looking to learn a specific skill in a rapid and immediate setting. 
 
Constructivism:
Exercises are structured to provide students with guidelines on what they could create. A learner is free to construct their project as they see fit, with the instructor providing feedback and advice to help a learner achieve their best work possible. 
 
Social Constructivism:
Learners will be required to participate in discussion postings as well as share their work with other students for creative critique. This social interaction will provide both reflection and inspiration for learners. The instructor will be present in these discussions, providing feedback to each learner, adding to other learners’ comments, as well as acting as a moderator.
 
Connectivism:
Throughout the course there will be links to additional resources to help learners grasp concepts, get inspiration, and enhance their work. These elements will establish a network of nodes, with the instructor curating those nodes and updating them as necessary.

In each week’s exercise the learner will create or further develop an artifact.
 
Untimely learners will create an interactive animation on Codepen.io. They will also have the source files that they created throughout each week. These can be used in student portfolios, as well as inspiration for other students, and as a way to promote the course.