enCore v.4 User's Guide

How to Use a Generic Classroom

The Generic Classroom is a powerful object, created to give teachers greater flexibility, creativity and control in conducting classes in enCore.  This guide contains the contents of the ‘help here’ and @tutorial commands from within enCore.  The Generic Classroom is not yet “graphical” within the EnCore interface, but preserves its text-based MOO characteristics.  This means that objects can be created and exist within the room that DO NOT show on the right graphical side. In addition, you will need to create objects with command lines and not from the Encore Object Editor.  Because of this nature of the Generic Classroom, you will need to use the description of your room (done with @describe) to alert your reader to the presence of objects. 

Because this room maintains its text-based MOO features, so the enCore Editor will be no help in creating objects for use within the classroom or for other command features of the room.  However, you will be able to create, name and describe your Classroom as anything you want through the enCore Editor. 

Verb summary

l*ook anything
writeb*lackboard anything
eraseb*lackboard anything
cleanb*lackboard
@sign anything
@addfur*niture anything
@rmfur*niture anything
sit anything
stand anything
say anything
speak*up/su/speak_up/ speak-up anything
put anything on anything
g*et/t*ake anything
em*ote anything
@stifle anything
`anything/-anything/to anything

@fix door anything
@setup anything
@mkclass anything
@rmclass anything
reg*ister anything
unreg*ister anything
@authorize anything
@unauthorize anything
@restric*tions anything
@stat*us
@tut*orial
printb
moveb anything to anything
v*iew #277
dis*play #277
connect #277 to anything
@webpref*erences #277


Note: The astericks * within these verb commands signifies the short version of text that can be typed to perform the command.

Using Specific Verb Commands  (Materials from the @tutorial command)

Designing the Classrooms

You may create your own desks, tables, shelves, bulletin boards, walls, or whatever using the @addfurniture name command.

You type: @addfurniture Table

MOO responds: Please describe Table. . . [Type a line of input or `@abort' to abort the command.]

You type in text of description.  Hit enter.

MOO responds: Is this object sittable?  [Enter `yes' or `no']

You type:                     yes   or     no

MOO responds: yourname sets up a Table in the room. . .

Note:  This object within the room will not show up in the graphical side of enCore, but it will be listed as an object in the room on the text side.

Let's suppose you wished to add a Lab Table to the room.  After typing @addfurniture Lab Table you would be asked to describe the table and indicate whether it is 'sittable' or not. While most furniture is 'sittable', some things like walls and bulletin boards are clearly not. 

After you've described the Lab Table, students can sit Lab Table, put anything on Lab Table, get anything, or look Lab Table

Objects on the Lab Table will only be seen by persons sitting there or persons who look at the table.  Walls, shelves, and bulletin boards are obvious places to 'put' things like calendars, lab equipment, or notes.

To remove furniture, type @rmfurniture name .

Note that each room has a built-in blackboard and a clock.  Just look blackboard or look clock.  You can write on the blackboard by typing writeb Your message.


Setting up a class roster

@mkclass classname
This creates a class roster for registering your students. To set up an 'Intro to Theater' class type '@mkclass Intro to Theater'. 

@authorize name
This enables the person named to use the @mkclass and other commands to create his own class. Through this command, more than one teacher can create his or her class within the same room.

@setup classname
Activates classname as the current class. You can now register your students. Type  register Bill, register Mary, and so on. Students registered in the 'current' class can enter the classroom even when the door is closed.

@restrictions on
To allow only authorized persons to make furniture, register students, or setup classes just type '@restrictions on'.

@status
You may type @status at any time to see which class is 'current', who is registered or authorized, and whether restrictions are in place.


Moderating the class

One of the main advantages of using the Generic Classroom is to moderate extraneous talking and emoting.  Have the students type sit Lab Table or whereever.  While they are seated, they can only be heard by others sitting with them.  This enables students to talk with each other or carry on small group discussions without disturbing others.  Students who wish to be heard throughout the room need only type speakup anything, or stand to be heard. Emoting can be limited to tablemates only or made visible to the entire room through the use of @stifle on/off.

It is a good idea to type '@door close' and '@session on' when you begin a class so folks not registered in the 'current' class cannot drop in uninvited. The @session command informs others that your class is '(in session)' when they do an @who listing.


Special commands

cleanb                                     
Erases the entire blackboard. 

moveb 2 to 4                           
Moves item 2 on blackboard to position 4. Look blackboard will list the messages on the blackboard.

printb                                      
Makes a printout of blackboard contents.

register/unregister Ken             
Adds or removes Ken from *current* class

@addfurn/@rmfurn Desk     
Adds or removes a piece of describable furniture

door open/closed                     
Restricts entry to persons in *current* class

@mkclass/@rmclass Math   
Adds 'Math' to list of classes taught here

@setup Math                          
Makes 'Math' the *current* class

@stifle on/off               
Disable or enable seated persons emoting to everyone

@sign on/off               
Shows a message that indicates people in the classroom are in a session whenever someone does the @who command

@authorize/@unauth Ken    
Adds or removes Ken from list of authorized users

@restrictions on/off                 
Restricts Special verbs to authorized users

@tutorial                                 
To view a short tutorial on using classroom

@fix                                        
To correct seating mixups if they occur

 

Screen Appearance || Quick Start || Beginner's Guide || | Getting around || Communicating ||Character options || Working with objects || Objects help ||Using MOO Mail || Creating objects and rooms ||Xpress options || Getting help || Command summary ||

Questions? Comments? Email Lennie Irvin
This guide is based on materials developed for the Encore Open Source Documentation Project by Lennie Irvin and Erin Karper. Menu courtesy of Milonic.

Page last updated 08-09-04 --LI