Final Project Descriptions

Title: Moon Phases
Group Members: Lai Ka Ming (Patrick), Chan Yuen Yam (Kenneth)

Project file (.swf) (Web-Runnable) URL: http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/yyechan2/Project.swf
Source Code File (.fla) URL: http://iln.cite.hku.hk/com/1374/users/yyechan2/Project.fla

Contributions
Lai Ka Ming (Patrick)
Chan Yuen Yam (Kenneth)
Introduction
Simulation
Tab Buttons
Phase Slider
Quiz
Interactive Phase
Project Documentation
Matching
In fact, we are helping each other in each section. For example, we design the Storyboard, the Prototype and the Drafts together. In addition, we comment on each others' works. We contributes to the improvements of the project throughout the development process.

Educational Values:

  • This package facilitates learners in learning about Moon Phases (for students from Primary 6 to Secondary School).
  • Learners will learn better by viewing the animations and the interactive information in this package.
  • These functions are not possibly be accomplished in tradition textbooks.

    Features:

  • The Introduction section provides the learner an overview about the project package.
  • The Simulation section provides the learner a view of continuous motion of how the moon phases change when the moon is moving around the Earth.
  • The Phase Slider and Interactive Phase sections provides the learner to choose the desired view of Moon Phases.
  • The Matching section provides the learner to check his / her learning about the Moon Phases Terminologies.
  • The Quiz section provides the learner to check how much and how well has the learner learnt.
  • The References section provides the learner extra information for them to explore more about Moon Phases.

    Appreciation / Suggestions:

  • Besides our group members, our fellow classmates, Dr. Churchill and Ryan provide to us comments on the project.
  • The table below shows some of the Appreciation about our project from their comments.
    Agree to our design / Appreciation
    Aspects / Sections Comment / Ideas / Appreciation
    Moon Phase Simulation (by Ryan Yue)
    your topic is very good to be presented in animation
    I like the stimulation part so much. It is interesting.

    (by Jaco, Ryan, Fong Yee and Tsui Ning)
    It is very interesting and shows the shape of the Moon when it moves around the Earth

    (by Jaco)
    I like your animation version as the continual motion of the moon and the different view of the moon from the earth can be shown simultaneously
    Phase Slider (by Qingchun Hu)
    In PhaseSlider.swf , user could have an interesting interaction. I like this.
    Quiz (by Ryan Yue)
    I like the quiz part, as it can reforce the learners to think about what they have learned
    Tab Buttons (Menu Buttons) (by David Cheng)
    I like the tabs - you have moon icons that can change!

  • The table below shows some of our Modifications / Improvements based on their comments.
    Suggestions
    Aspects / Sections Comments & Our Responses
    Project Proposal

    Comments:
    Providing the site (by Jaco):
    http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html

    Our Response:
    After reading the above webpage, our group have found that there is a link (see below) very useful for our project:

    Phases of the Moon and Percent of the Moon Illuminated
    http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/moon_phases.html
    Moon Phases (Information) Comments:
    Providing the site (by Fong Yee & Tsui Ning):
    http://www.learnactivity.com/lo/index.htm

    Our Response:
    After we have read the above website, together with the comments of our classmates, we have decided to make an animation in representing the Moon Phases.

    Our animation can contiuously (and automatically) show the movement of the moon and the changes of the Moon Phases viewed from the Earth.
    Moon Phases (Simulation) Comments:
    (by David Cheng)
    ... slow down the moon's orbiting and the Earth's rotation ...

    (by Ryan Yue)
    I suggest that it would be interesting if your final product can allow user to change the position of the moon by themselves.

    Our Response:
    Our group also realized that the animation itself is a bit fast. But our group think the animation (showing in a continuous motion) is necessary for the learner to get the impression of the motion of the moon in its orbit.

    So, in the project, in addition to the ¡§Simulation¡¨ (animation), we have added a ¡§Phase Slider¡¨ which allows the learner to choose and see the Moon Phases in details (in a static mode).

    Moreover, a section called ¡§Interactive Phase¡¨ is added for the learner to know more about the Moon Phases. Also, this section allows the learner to learn the desired Moon Phases individually.
    Matching Comments:
    (by Jaco Cheung)
    some messages telling whether one has got the correct answers or not should be encouraged

    (by Emily)
    I think if you add "Right" / "Wrong", players will easily know they do right or wrong.

    Our Response:
    In the prototype version, we haven't added the feature of telling the learner about correct or incorrect answers.

    After reading the comment from Jaco Cheung and Emily, we have decided to make the moon back to the original position (at the bottom of the screen) if the learner dragged the moon phase to the wrong orbit position.

    In addition to this, for the ¡§Matching¡¨ exercise, our group have decided to change the image of the moon in the moon orbit to ¡§?¡¨. On the other hand, we have decided to add a precise ¡§instruction¡¨ at the upper left hand corner. These make the presentation clearer for the learner to know where should the answers be dragged to.
    Quiz

    Comments:
    (by Emily Chiu)
    I've tried the quiz and found that there's no correct answer provided. Perhaps you may consider to add such info on it.

    (by Dorothy Tsang)
    after the learner got the wrong answer in quiz, could the correct answer be shown instead of only told him it was incorrect?

    Our Response:
    After reading the comment from Emily and Dorothy about the ¡§Quiz¡¨, we have decided to tell the learner the correct answers if the learner has chosen the wrong answers.

    Limitations:

  • In the Introduction Screen, due to technical problem, our group still cannot remove the button "click this button to the quiz".
  • In the Quiz Screen, due to technical problem, our group still cannot add a cover frame specially for the Quiz.

    Conclusion:

    Our group have produced a project (package) about "Moon Phases". Though we cannot solve all the problems faced, we have do our best in making the package usable. In addition, we have tried to apply the techniques and the theories we have learnt in the lessons. The skills we have used include: re-organizing information, using animations, sliders, hotspots and buttons.

    Acknowledgements:

    Nevertheless, we have to thank Dr. Daniel Churchill, Ryan Yue and our fellow classmates. They have provided to our group constructive feedbacks and supoort. The comments we received are useful for our group to know what we have to improve and knowing different people views.