Macromedia Flash is an internet technology that allows a designer to create web pages with a level of interactivity beyond that of more common HTML and Javascript pages. It is possible to completely customise the way in which an exercise responds to the user and gives feedback. It is also possible to make exercises which can be extended by the use of simple text files, mp3 files or database connections.
Due to this flexibility Flash has been used in the development of the Parapal exercises and a range of other interactive multimedia resources.
Parapal has been developed with several important practical considerations at its core.
- Teachers have little time for learning new technology so the exercises should be simple to create from model texts, which many teachers have anyway
- Good quality model texts are difficult and time consuming to create. Parapal maximises their value by allowing them to be used in a variety of exercises.
- Students need to review and revise material for it to be acquired successfully. Parapal encourages the use of the same model text in a range of exercises. This allows students to study a genre flexibly, and with ample opportunity for revision.
- Students need to take control of their own learning. Parapal supports this in several ways. The main suite is obviously available on the internet and can be accessed at any time. In addition, there are authorable players that students can download to make their own exercises.
- Exercises
should look as natural as possible. With this in mind most of the Parapal
exercises build up a complete text, without HTML boxes that destroy
the appearance of the text.
For more information about the possibilities of Flash in particular and the internet in general please contact me. charlie.williams@parapal-online.co.uk