Portfolio

This page lists examples of multimedia learning modules , web-based publications, and user interfaces designed and/or developed by Alphapure Design Studio. In addition, visit my graphics and photos folders for examples of images created by Alphapure Design Studio from various sources.

Multimedia Learning Modules

Alphapure's proprietor, Dwight Owens, served a variety of roles, including project manager, instructional designer, instructional developer, programmer, and media director/producer for the following multimedia learning modules:

Pesticides Safety (2011)

This set of learning resource was incorporated into an online training course on pesticides safety. Alphapure did the flash development for interactives dealing with environment, equipment, exposure precautions, labeling and legislation.

Caring About Food Safety (7/2010)

This award-winning self-paced learning module educates public in the basics of food safety in the home, which can then be applied generally to people's daily lives and shared with others. Alphapure did the flash development for this project.

DriveSmart (2009)

This online learning resource teaches BC government employees good driving behaviour and techniques to help them lower fuel consumption, save gas and money, and reduce the harmful impact on the environment. Alphapure did the flash development for this project.

Being Victorian (11/2008)

This award-winning website introduces some of the prominent people and issues of old Victoria, circa 1858-1914. Alphapure did the flash development for this project.

Freedom of Information & Privacy Protection (2008)

This set of 5 learning exercises are part of a larger course on the same subject offered by Open School BC. Alphapure did the flash development for this project.

Identity Proofing & Copyright Protection (2008)

This learning module is part of a larger course on the same subject offered by Open School BC. Alphapure did the flash development for this project.

Fire Weather Climatology (April/08)

This learning module provides a comprehensive look at fire regions across the United States and characteristics of typical fire seasons in each region. In addition, critical fire weather patterns are described in terms of their development, duration and impact on fire weather. Numerous case studies provide examples and opportunities to practice recognizing these critical patterns and how they can affect fire ignition and spread.

Fire Behavior (April/08)

This module provides a comprehensive overview of the three main dimensions of the fire environment triangle: fuels, topography, and weather. Five interactive case studies illustrate the interdependent influences these three dimensions have on fire behavior. A wide range of fire behavior is also discussed in terms of the environmental factors that support or suppress fire ignition and spread.

Antarctica: Challenging Forecasts for a Challenging Environment (Summer/07)

Dwight designed and developed the 10-minute Overview Section of this 2-part publication created to support outreach and training efforts for the 2007-2008 International Polar Year.

Antarctica is a fascinating and challenging environment to study. Starting with the early explorations more than 200 years ago to present-day field research, we’ve learned a lot. But there is a great deal more we need to discover, particularly if we are going to be able to understand climate change on this planet.

Watersheds: Connecting Weather to the Environment (August/06)

This short course provides broadcast meteorologists with knowledge and instructional materials to help them understand watersheds as our environmental home and to help their viewers understand the relationship between the weather and the health and protection of the environment.

Environmental impacts in many areas of the country result from the daily actions of people. We can easily see the consequences of a major oil spill at sea that is driven ashore by winds and ocean currents, but what about the fertilizer that people put on their lawns and the de-icer they apply to their driveway, or changing the car’s oil in the backyard, or the pet waste in the yard or local park? Combined with weather, all of these have an impact on both the local environment and the larger regional environment.

Shallow-Water Waves (August/06)

As deep-water waves approach the coastline, they encounter shallower water and begin to interact with the sea floor while evolving into shallow water waves. This
module uses an interactive wave calculator to look at a variety of shallow-water wave behaviors, including shoaling, refraction, reflection, breaking, attenuation, and coastal run-up and set-up. All are important considerations when forecasting for small craft and other recreational interests in the near-shore environment.

NWS Support During Hazardous Materials Emergencies (July/05)

This learning module helps weather forecasters develop operational competence with atmospheric dispersion support by teaching:

• Weather data inputs critical for dispersion modeling
• Types and scales of hazardous materials emergencies and corresponding atmospheric dispersion models
• Key uncertainties can cause misleading dispersion model forecasts
• Processes, limitations, and interpretation of two main dispersion models

Physics of the Aurora: Earth Systems (December/04)

This interactive learning module introduces the systems and processes through which the Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere are influenced by the sun, eventually leading to the magnificent auroral displays. Developed especially for university professors and students in the fields of physics and astronomy, this module includes sections on the history, lore, and science of the aurora, the magnetosphere, the thermosphere-ionosphere, basic electromagnetism, and upper-atmospheric physics.

In-Depth Physics Lessons (December/04)

This collection of four condensed physics lessons is offered as a companion to our Physics of the Aurora: Earth Systems learning module, and has been developed especially for use by university physics educators. The lesson topics are Charged Particle Motions, Magnetic Force, the Frozen-field Theorem, and Static Atmospheres. Each short, self-contained lesson can be accessed independently and includes interactive formula derivations, exercises, and open-ended questions suitable for classroom discussion or out-of-class assignments.

Hurricane Strike! (December/04; April/02)

Designed primarily for middle school students and funded by FEMA and the NWS, this module creates a scenario to frame learning activities that focus on hurricane science and safety.

Over the course of seven days, Hurricane Erin forms in the Atlantic Ocean, crosses the Florida peninsula, and then makes another landfall at Fort Walton Beach. During these days, the learner is introduced to many basic concepts of atmospheric science, climate, and geography, while also learning some important and possibly life-saving safety and preparedness skills. The module includes several interactive games and activities that address hurricane meteorology and hurricane safety.

Teachers and others who use the module for public education will find the "Information for Teachers" section particularly useful. This section provides information about all of the main learning objects in the module, as well as access to them as stand-alone activities. Links to numerous hurricane-related Web sites are also included, as are links to expert advice about helping children deal with trauma. Worksheets that test the learner's understanding of the module's content are provided in this section, as well as throughout the module. Versions are also available for Spanish-language students and for hearing, motor, and visually impaired students.

This project received the 2004 American Meteorological Society’s Louis J. Batton Authors Award for “outstanding, newly published learning materials..that foster the understanding of atmospheric and related sciences in K-12 audiences.” The site has also earned top rating at Surfing the Net with Kids.

West Coast Fog (November/01)

This is part of the Physical Processes Professional Competency Unit of the Forecasting Low-Altitude Clouds and Fog for Aviation Operations Professional Development Series. West Coast Fog discusses the climatology, physical processes, and evolution of hot spell fogs along the U.S. West Coast.

Radiation Fog (December/99)

This module presents the physical processes and life cycle of radiation fog, including its preconditioning environment, initiation, growth, and dissipation. The processes include radiation (both solar and longwave), soil-atmosphere thermal interactions, turbulent mixing, the roles of condensation nuclei, and droplet settling. Each section includes a set of interactive questions based on the learning content presented.

Aviation Icing Assessment Using Observations and Pilot Reports (April/99)

This Web-based learning module is the second title in a series of modules about the use of diagnostic tools to evaluate icing type and severity. The module teaches how to assess surface observations, upper-air charts, and pilot reports (PIREPs) in order to diagnose the aviation icing environment. Topics include strengths, weaknesses, and appropriate uses of these data, data assessment methods, interpretation and evaluation of PIREPs, and a bottom-up procedure for integrated icing diagnosis at a particular location. This module includes numerous practice exercises allowing learners to improve their skills in icing assessment using these basic observational tools.

Aviation Icing Assessment Using Soundings and Wind Profiles (November/98)

This module teaches how to assess vertical profiles of wind, temperature, dewpoint, and frost point in order to diagnose airmass characteristics, cloud layers, and possible aviation icing layers. Topics include strengths, weaknesses, and appropriate uses of rawinsonde and profiler data for assessment of aviation icing, icing characteristics of the different extratropical cyclone air masses, identification of dry and saturated layers and possible zones of favorable conditions for aircraft icing, and ice seeding and glaciation processes.

This module was built as a hybrid Web/CD application, requiring use of a companion CD-ROM called The Icing Event of 6 March 1996.

Aviation Icing Type and Severity (March/98)

This module discusses the current theories of atmospheric conditions associated with aircraft icing and applies the theories to the icing diagnosis and forecast process. The contribution of liquid water content, temperature, and droplet size parameters to icing are examined. Identification of icing type, icing severity, and the hazards associated with icing features are presented. Tools to help diagnose atmospheric processes that may be contributing to icing and the special case of supercooled large drop (SLD) icing are examined and applied in short exercises.

Hydrology for the Meteorologist: The Headwater Forecast Process (1998)

This on-line course covers the basic procedures involved in evaluating a potential headwater flooding situation to determine if the public needs to be alerted. The different types of products needed to make these decisions are introduced and interactions are provided to allow you to practice using them. The decision-making process is incapsulated in an included Web-based hypertext decision aid for headwater forecasting.

As you move through the headwater forecast process, you must employ the concepts learned in Hydrology for the Meteorologist: Basic Hydrology for Headwater Forecasting in order to make decisions about issuing a flood product. Being aware of how a runoff event will affect the basin of interest will allow you to focus on the regions most likely to experience flooding.

This module was built using an older plugin that is no longer supported and does not work with most current-generation browsers and operating systems. However,

Case Study: Hurricane Erin, 1-4 August 1995 (1998)

This CD-based bilingual English/Spanish case study data set was designed for instructors or trainer who needs to teach subjects such as tropical meteorology, tropical cyclone structure and dynamics, tropical cyclone movement and evolution, or various techniques for forecasting tropical cyclone track and intensity. It was a flexible teaching tool that could be used to:

• Help instructors illustrate concepts related to tropical meteorology and tropical cyclones
• Provide an example of a tropical cyclone describe modern meteorological data and product types
• Devise and structure guided learning activities for students
• Pose simulated forecast scenarios
• Provide data for student research projects

Extratropical Cyclones (December/94)

This laserdisc-based traning course is no longer in print. It featured 23 hours of interactive content, providing a basic introduction to ten conceptual topics and eight forecasting method topics related to extratropical cyclogenesis and cyclone evolution. These concepts and methods are exemplified and applied in one rich tutorial case study representing a basic extratropical cyclone event that exhibits key features and evolutionary processes.

Heavy Precipitation and Flash Flooding (November/92)

This laserdisc-based training module is no longer in print. It featered 6 hours of interactive content, providing an introductory-level understanding of the multiple factors and conditions taken into account by operational forecasters to assess the potential for flash flooding. Specifically, this module covered the key questions that forecasters must ask in order to correctly anticipate heavy precipitation or a potential flash flood event due to convective precipitation.

Subject matter experts demonstrated key flash flood forecasting and monitoring methodologies through step-by-step observations and analyses. They also provided background information and feedback to guide the learner through practice sessions in which he/she could apply and improve these analytical skills. In-depth consideration was also given to key hydrological and meteorological components as well as to relevant synoptic and mesoscale weather patterns and interactions.

Workshop on Doppler Radar Interpretation (December/91)

This laserdisc-based course is no longer in print. It featured 20 hours of interactive content scattered across 32 different case studies to introduce learners to:

• Basic interpretation of patterns associated with fronts, convergence and divergence, wind change with height, and other topics
• The use of other meteorological information in conjunction with radar data
• Methods to compensate for complications with radar data.

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Web-based Publications

Alphapure's proprietor participated in design & development of the following Web-based publications:

Tsunami-Safe (April/07)

This is an informational website sponsored by the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program (PEP). It presents public outreach information ranging from an introduction to how and where Tsunamis occur to specific awareness, safety, and preparedness recommendations for the general public.

Dwight developed the full website, which makes blended use of HTML, CSS, and Flash animations and an interactive quiz (also created by Dwight.)

3rd Mission Innovations: Report on Strategic Innovations (June/02)

Oregon State University (OSU) and its Extension Service began a series of strategic innovations in the mid-1990s, intended to enhance its ability to address the needs of the people of Oregon. OSU’s new definition of scholarship attracted considerable attention as an innovative way to understand the role of a diverse range of intellectual and creative activities within a single unified framework. The degree of Extension integration into academic departments and other features of the OSU innovations have also drawn national attention.

This website summarized findings from a study that investigated the progress and outcomes of these strategic innovations at OSU Extension.

Helping Teen Parents Feed Their Young Children (May/02)

This is a food & nutrition training module for those who teach teen parents how to feed their children produced by the Oregon State University Extension Service Family & Community Development Program.

Looking for Oregon's Future: What is Sustainability? (November/01)

The Oregon State University Extension Service’s goal for this print and Web-based publication was to "promote dialogue among Oregonians concerning the future of our communities, industries, resources and economy, and concerning the quality of life we want to make possible for our grandchildren."

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Interface Designs

Alphapure's proprietor created and developed the following user interfaces:

Fire Weather Climatology Tools

These Flash-based interactive maps display information about fire weather regions, seasons, and large-scale patterns. They include an interactive calendar map and a regional map with rollover pop-up information and overlayed patterns.

Panel-based Learning Unit

This example panel menu from a series of units on watersheds loads panels independently allowing users to view content in one while the others are still downloading. A suggested order is indicated by the numbers, while the panels themselves are colorful and enticing. Each panel contains a multimedia presentation or learning exercise.

Media Assets Menu

This media assets browser from the Watersheds series shows thumbnails of graphics and animations from the unit, which may be clicked to access full-sized media objects, with accompanying expanatory text, for download and reuse.

Navigation Sidebar with Map-based Situated Learning

This interface from the Shallow-water Waves learning module, includes a Flash-based expandable sidebar menu, on-page audio navigation controls, and a map-based interface to support various situated learning exercises.

Interactive Wave Calculator

This tabbed interface contains a multifunction "Shallow-water Waves Calculator," which lets users input deep-water wave height and period to derive numerous shallow-water wave characteristics. This calculator has been produced in two formats, one for traditional web delivery and one for delivery via Pocket PC.

Interactive Insolation Calculator

This interactive application allows users to examine solar insolation by latitude and season at different phases of the Earth's orbital cycles. Parameters can be modified freely using interactive sliders and resulting insolation curves "captured" for printing or comparison.

"Compariscope"

This unique application displays comparative levels of ice volume with insolation over the past 790,000 years. Users can freely display, hide, capture, and zoom on these curves.

Operations Timeline

This narrated timeline animation describes events and actions as they occur over time in response to a chemical accident or hazardous release. The interface includes a tab-based navigation strip, individual page navigation buttons, and a special topics slide-up sub menu.

Photo + Audio Scenario

This scenario segment contains an audio dialogue supported by photos, cartoon bubbles, and data images. The scenario pauses at various decision points and asks learners to answer questions or make decisions.

Slide-up Supporting Topic Menu

This interface includes a supporting topics button (lower-right corner), which reveals a slide-up subtopic menu with linked, self-contained content sections.

Multi-level Navigation Menus

This screen capture from a learning module on the aurora illustrates how six levels of navigation are seamlessly integrated into a single interface. A tabbed navigation strip along the top allows users to switch between main sections. The main display area provides menus to overview, details, and in-depth levels of content, while specific content pages are accessed via the page number buttons above, beneath the tab strip. A separate slide-up in-depth topic menu opens from the base strip.

Animated Formulas

This page-driven content section includes animated formula derivations that play to music and are segmented by derivation steps.

Blended Media

This screen capture from a learning module on the aurora illustrates a dramatic use of blended media. In it, a photograph serving as the backdrop for a color brightness and wavelength chart helps to directly demonstrate the appearance of green emissions from excited oxygen atoms.

Chemical Processes Viewer

This interactive tool allows learners to visualize a variety of chemical reactions that occur in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Users can click the chemical formulas to play and step through short movies each reaction.

Javascript/DHTML Navigation Menu

This online learning module uses javascript and DHTML to generate the navigation widgets in the left rail, including topic, subtopic, and page-level access buttons.

Exploratory Learning for Kids

Numerous exploratory learning interfaces were created for the award-winning module, Hurricane Strike!.

Palette Development

The following pages, from a demo lesson we developed, illustrate some of our methods for extracting a palette and using it to set the colors and tone for a project.

1. Physics of the Aurora
2. Watersheds

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