Todays (April 95) probably best tested, liked and known classroom has been built by Ken Schweller.
Upon creation of a classroom a short tutorial and help is available:
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>@tutorial
* * * * * * Using the GENERIC CLASSROOM : A Brief Tutorial * * * * * * *
The Generic Classroom was created to give teachers greater flexibility,
creativity and control in conducting MOO classes. Here are the basics of
classroom use. You may type 'help here' at any time for a brief summary of
the room commands.
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 'sit-able'
or not. While most furniture is 'sit-table' 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!'.
SETTING UP A CLASS ROSTER:
To set up an 'Intro to Theater' class type '@mkclass Intro to Theater'.
This creates a class roster for registering your students. If you would like
Ken to be able to teach a different class in your room you must '@authorize
Ken'. This enables Ken to use the @mkclass and other commands to create his
own class. You can now register your students. Type '@setup Intro' to
activate Intro to Theater as the 'current' class and then type 'register
Bill', 'register Mary', and so on. Students registered in the 'current' class
can enter the classroom even when the door is closed. To allow only
authorized persons to make furniture, register students or setup classes just
type '@restrictions on'. 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
wherever. 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 '@sign on' when you begin a class
so folks not registered in the 'current' class cannot drop in uninvited. The
@sign command informs others that your class is '(in session)' when they do
an @who listing.
MISC:
There are numerous additional commands that can be used in the Generic
Classroom. Type 'help here' for examples of their use.
AN INVITATION:
The Generic Classroom was designed to incorporate the ideas and wishes of
many MOO teachers. It will continue to evolve as we all make new teaching
discoveries. We invite *you* to participate in the development of this
experimental teaching technology by bringing forward your critiques and
suggestions. They are most welcome! -ken/cdr
<end of tutorial>
>help here
Seminar Room (#184):
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How To Use This Room
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.
GENERAL
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
cleanb - erase entire blackboard
register/unregister Ken - add/rm Ken from *current* class
@addfurn/@rmfurn Desk - add/remove a piece of describable furniture
door open/closed - restrict entry to persons in *current* class
@mkclass/@rmclass Math - add 'Math' to list of classes taught here
@setup Math - makes 'Math' the *current* class
@stifle on/off - disable seated persons emoting to everyone
@sign on/off - show 'this.session_msg' at @who command
@authorize/@unauth Ken - add/rm Ken from list of authorized users
@restrictions on/off - restrict Special verbs to authorized users
@tutorial - view a short tutorial on using classroom
@fix - correct seating mixups if they occur
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Ken's generic classroom has been developed in tight interaction with teachers on DU and other MOOs.