Developing animations for the Web requires a combination of planning, communication, and a skilled team that can work through challenging situations.  If the process goes well, the benefits of incorporating Web animation in the curriculum can be great.  Animations enhance learning and encourage participation by offering a variety of visual, interactive experiences that can be accessed from anywhere at any time.  This presentation outlined the fundamental principals for creating Flash animations, how to assemble an effective team, and what to anticipate during the design process and beyond.

The Eccles Health Sciences Library has developed numerous educational resources in Flash, which are freely available on the Web for educational use.  In the process of developing these resources, we have learned a great deal through trial and error.  We have found it helpful to share our experiences with colleagues, particularly because many of us do not have the resources to support professional artists or programmers for our projects.  As a result, we design animations on our own, learning the techniques as we go and encountering some difficulties along the way.  However, many obstacles can be avoided by following some basic steps to help the project stay on track and the process go smoothly.

Aside from the inevitable challenges inherent in the multimedia design process, Web animation has much to offer within the health sciences domain.  Interactive tutorials, animations depicting dynamic processes that change over time, and self-assessment quizzes for students to use online or for faculty to use in the classroom are just some of the benefits Web animations provide.  Research on the cognitive benefits of animation, video, and interactive websites versus static text and illustrations has shown that academic performance, including knowledge comprehension and retention, improve when Flash animation is added to educational materials.¹  Web animations provide exciting opportunities to enrich the educational experiences of our students. 

In this one-hour Webcast Audio Seminar, Ms. Craigle discussed the pros and cons of developing Web animations for the health sciences curriculum.  Pertinent issues were addressed regarding the development process.  Some main points covered were how to work with content experts to maximize the educational value of the material, how to assemble a quality team, tips and tricks to make the workflow as efficient as possible, and discovering what resources are available to you on campus, through outsourcing services, or for download from the Web.  Supplemental materials were provided to instruct participants on the techniques of downloading Flash files  from the Web and how to embed a Flash document into PowerPoint .  Other documents included a bibliography on using Flash animation in health sciences curricula and a page consisting of URLs that link to interesting medical animation resources .

1.  O’Loughlin, V.D. and Montoya, R.S.  2003.  Impact on learning and long-term understanding of cardiovascular embryology using Web-based animations designed in-house.  Part 1. Introduction, assessment data, and pedagogical impact.  FASEB Journal 17(4-5): 1

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