The Generic Classroom is a powerful object, created to give teachers greater flexibility, creativity and control in conducting MOO classes. This guide contains the contents of the ‘help here’ and @tutorial commands from within the MOO. 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 you room (done with @describe) to alert your reader to the presence of objects.
@examine Obvious Verbs
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Instructions and Information on Specific Verbs (Commands)
Using the Encore Object Editor
As I mentioned above, 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.
Using Specific Verb Commands (Materials from the @tutorial command)
DESIGNING THE CLASSROOM:
You may create your own desks, tables, shelves, bulletin boards, walls or whatever using the @addfurniture command. 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. 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 <object>'. 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 hello class!'.
MORE ON ADDING FURNITURE
@addfurniture <name>
Creates a piece of furniture with the given name.
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 no
MOO responds: <your name> 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 of the MOO.
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 '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 '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.
To create new tables, desks, shelves, bulletin boards etc. use the '@addfurniture' command. You can 'look', 'sit', or 'put' things on most objects you create. While sitting you are heard only by others sitting with you. If you 'stand' or 'speakup' everyone can hear you. 'Look' at objects to see what's on them.
EXAMPLES OF GENERAL COMMANDS—these are lines you type
| look blackboard | sit Big Desk | @status |
| writeb Hi There! | stand | put map on Bulletin |
| eraseb 4 | speakup I think that.. | get map |
| to Ken Hi there! | look clock | look Big Desk |
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 at @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