Each of the three synchronous communication protocols listed below has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Other similar writing programs include Norton's Connect. Some writing programs, like Academic System's Interactive English, allow students to interact with the computer program, but not with each other, while course management systems, such as WebCT or Blackboard, allow student discussions, file sharing, and more features, they are not designed specifically with the writing classroom in mind. However, new programs are being introduced every day. The software you choose must fit not only your pedagogy, but also the limitations and/or restrictions of the technology available to you in your own home campus.
IRC is vaguely similar to the very popular
and easy-to-use America On-Line "chat rooms," with separate channels available
for various topics. You may also set up your own channels and moderate
discussions, if desired. A text-only IRC client is available online on
our Unix host systems, so one distinct advantage is there is no cost associated
with using this software. The learning curve is steeper than with Daedalus,
but not extremely difficult. And it does not limit the classroom to a single
physical location as DIWE conferencing usually does.
Many MOOs already have programming in place (via generic objects) to allow for such virtual reality features as blackboards and slide projectors, moderated panel discussions, and more. Further, MOOs allows teachers and/or students to build and customize the environment to suit their needs (or their mood). In essence, the "difference between a MOO and IRC boil[s] down to the richness of the environment. If you want free synchronous conferencing with a richer, more flexible virtual environment within which to write, play, and experiment, then using a MOO is probably better" (Ritter).
Many MOOs are also "Webbed," meaning that all objects (including players) in the MOO automatically generate a WWW page on the host site. Characters and owners of objects may also edit these WWW pages to suit their own needs and desires. MOOs also include their own listservs, known as MOO Mailing Lists, their own IRC-like channels, their own e-mail (MOO-mail), and many more features of the larger Internet.
Additionally, unlike many chat programs now available and many technology-mediated distance learning applications, MOOs take very little in the way of resources. Even a user with a very slow connection, and old, beat-up PC, and no room on the hard drive to install new applications can connect to the MOO and interact in real time, using the basic telnet protocol. As a matter of fact, often, even experienced users with plenty of bells and whistles on their computer systems seem to prefer telnet connections to the fancier Web connections.
Teaching
MOOs
lend themselves well to collaborative group projects. There are many MOOs
that welcome classes without a fee, and which offer tutorials and plenty
of help to MOO novices--both teachers and students. Of course, teachers
should prepare to teach in these spaces by learning as much as they can
in advance. And, just as there are a wide variety of individual teaching
styles and content, so, too, there are a wide variety of differences in
MOO teaching styles and content. A little time spent exploring these
strange worlds can help to acclimate you to the environment as well as
help you find the right community to suit your classroom needs.
For
most of us, conference attendance is an important fact of our lives. We
value the opportunity to share our work with our peers, and we benefit
greatly from learning about the work our colleagues are doing. Even the
chance to socialize with others from our discipline is valuable. Unfortunately,
the time and cost involved limits us to one or two conferences a year at
best.
What if you could attend an important conference without leaving your home or office? What if you could read the papers in advance, and meet with the authors in real time to ask them questions about the works? What if you had the chance to meet with colleagues and discuss important issues in your field, while sitting in your home office, wearing your pajamas and babysitting the children? And, if you miss something, or need to review what was discussed, you could have a written log of the discussion to refer to.
For an article in the Chronicle of Higher
Education online edition, Lisa Guernsey attended the weekly C-Fest
conference held at LinguaMOO. Those of us participating were working on
drafting documents for tenure and promotion committees that will include
granting credit for online work (including online conference presentations).
Having a reporter from the Chronicle actually attend our meeting
online in real time, interview us there, and report on what we were doing
is, of course, a step toward just the sort of validation we seek (Guernsey
29 Apr. 1997).
A
lot of research has been done on MOOs, much of it available online only.
In the last few years, there has been much interest in these spaces, and
articles in traditional (print) publications and conference presentations
are proliferating. In addition to conducting research about MOOs
and MUDs, however, the abundance of material now available in some of these
spaces makes it possible to conduct research on a wide variety of topics
in
MOOs. The "Bibliography" listed below was a project I did the first semester
I learned about MOOs. I searched the library for sources without much luck,
but I found an annotated bibliography about MOOs published online at MediaMOO.
More and more, as students and teachers move into these virtual worlds,
they are becoming sites for publication as well as conversation.
It
is possible to use MOOs as chat programs, similar to IRC or programs like
Daedalus or Norton Connect, and many teachers do just that--simply log
their classes on as Guests and show them how to "talk." However, the nature
of MOOs is that the class may soon usurp teacher authority. Thus, teachers
may find themselves frustrated, at least at first, when students wrest
control of the "big sign" verb or wander off to the Pub and get virtually
drunk. (See "An
Experience in Chaos"). Some MOOs, like LinguaMOO, have found creative
ways of ensuring orderly discussions, creating rooms that allow for moderated
discussions, or programming rooms where students must raise their hand
to speak.
Large-group discussions can be difficult in any medium, however. MOOs allow for students to break up into smaller groups which may work better for some. Some teachers have posted papers on the Web and, by keeping two windows open simultaneously (one with Netscape and the other in telnet), students have been able to discuss papers online, or, working in groups, construct papers and projects. Since, with a little learning, students and teachers can learn to build and program, these spaces, then, ultimately are limited only by your imagination and level of expertise.
telnet connections.moo.mud.org 3333
or, using your Web browser, type: telnet://connections.moo.mud.org:3333 (if your preferences are set to recognize telnet protocols, this should pop open the telnet application you have designated), or
click on the "Start" button on your Window's desktop, click on "Run," and then type:
telnet connections.moo.mud.org 3333
Most veteran MOOers began with straight telnet. The only real problem with telnet is that words will appear on your screen interrupting the words you are typing. The MOO ignores the interruptions; simply continue typing until you're done, and then depress the enter key. However, obviously, this can be confusing. You may also need to edit your preferences in telnet in order to see what you are typing, you may not be able to backspace over typing errors, and you may not have control over how fast the text scrolls out of view on your screen.
Luckily, there are many "client" programs available that make MOO-life easier. Most are free and can be downloaded from the WWW or from various FTP (file transfer protocol) sites. For a list of some educational MOOs and MOO client software, see http://www2.gasou.edu/facstaff/jwalker/tutorials/workshop.html#moo.
Today,
we're going to start by using the Pueblo client to visit ConnectionsMOO,
an educational MOO that welcomes classes, offers plenty of assistance to
teachers and students, and hosts the weekly meetings of netoricians at
Tuesday Café. Keep your quick
list of MOO commands handy, and let's see what kind of chaos will ensue!
