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
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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