Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

Flash and Actionscript

• What is Flash?
• What is Actionscript?
• What is the difference between Actionscript 2.0 and Actionscript 3.0?

The Course

• Where are the courses held?
• When does the next course start?
• When do the courses run?
• What is the duration of the course?

Payment

• What payment options are available?
• Can I put down a deposit?
• Can I pay in monthly installments?

Flash and Actionscript

• What is Flash? 
  Adobe® Flash® the ubiquitous multimedia platform on the web that gives designers and developers the tools to create immersive online experiences for users. Introduced in 1996, Flash has become popular very quickly being adopted by the vast majority of internet users and is arguably the most popular method for adding animation and interactivity to web pages. Flash is highly versatile and applications for Flash include animations, ads, online applications, online games and Rich Internet Applications (RIAs).
  
  Flash combines sound, video, animation, interaction and information into a seamless, exciting user experience. Several software products, systems, and devices are able to display Flash content, including Adobe Flash Player, which is available for most common web browsers, some mobile phones and other electronic devices (using Flash Lite) and all major operating systems through Adobe AIR.
• What is Actionscript? 
  ActionScript is a scripting language used by Adobe® Flash® and Adobe® Flex® and is based on ECMAScript. ActionScript is used primarily for the development of websites and software using the Adobe Flash Player platform (in the form of SWF files embedded into Web pages), but is also used in some database applications. ActionScript was initially designed for controlling simple 2D vector animations made in Adobe® Flash®. Later versions added functionality allowing for the creation of Web-based games and rich Internet applications with streaming media (such as video and audio). Actionscript 3.0 is the current version of the Actionscript Language and is the most powerful code toolkit Flash developers have ever had. It is an elegant, powerful and easily understood language and switchOn(Training) specialises in teaching it.
• What is the difference between Actionscript 2.0 and Actionscript 3.0? 
  Actionscript 3.0 represents a major shift in thinking for programming in Flash. Where Actionscript 2.0 was more loosely put together Actionscript 3.0 has been given a major overhaul. There are very significant differences in the performance of AS3 compared to AS2. AS3 closely follows E4X guidelines and has been reconstituted to form a much more powerful language that developer of other languages will find familiar. AS3 is also based on better Object Oriented Programming principles making it a more robust and stable language for development. AS3 has been around since 2006 and it is essential for all serious Flash users to switch to AS3 as soon as possible to benefit from all the new features of Flash Player 9 and 10.

The Course

• Where are the courses held? 
  Digicape, Shop 1, Roeland Square, Roeland St, Cape Town.
• When does the next course start? 
  A new course starts every two months. Please contact us at: learn@switchontraining.com to find out when the next course that you are interested in commences.
• When do the courses run? 
  Our courses run in the evenings every weekday except Friday. A new course starts every two months. Please contact us at: learn@switchontraining.com to find out when the next course that you are interested in commences.
• What is the duration of the course? 
  The full switchOn(Training) course is 16 weeks long. We have two courses for different levels of experience, both are 8 weeks long. Classes are 3 hours in duration and are run on two nights a week.

Payment

• Must I pay the course fees upfront and in full? 
  No but since places are subject to availability, payment of at least 50% of the course fee secures your place. Preference is given to students that pay 100% of the fee upfront.
• Can I put down a deposit? 
  Yes, you can pay 50% of the course fee upfront and the balance 4 weeks later.
• Can I pay in monthly installments? 
  Unfortunately we do not currently accept payment in monthly installments. 50% of the fee would be payable upfront with the remaining 50% due 4 weeks later.