MOOs EDCC 892 MOOs In Education Kathy Schaefer

MOO’s EDCC 892 MOO’s In Education Kathy Schaefer Kathleen A. Schaefer, 2002

MOO’s Introduction • MUD’s MOO’s • Allow multiple users to connect via the Internet • MUD Multi-User Domain (Dungeon) – Text-based, like chat, fast – Earlier than MOOs – Fantasy games developed using MUDs Kathy Schaefer 2

MOO’s MOO • MOO Multi-User Object Oriented Environment • Connect to a shared database of “rooms” & other objects • Text-based, virtual reality sites • Allow manipulation & interaction with cyber-objects Kathy Schaefer 3

MOO’s MOO • “Widely used, public domain programs” • “Stable, mature environment” —Athena University • Text-based only Eg. Mundo. Hispano • Graphical front • Web sites en. Core X-press –“Like reading a book” Off-line Kathy Schaefer 4

MOO’s in Education Foster • Critical thinking skills • Problem solving • Independent, self-directed learning • Collaboration: groups, outside of class • Environment building Kathy Schaefer 5

MOO’s in Education Disadvantages • Hardware requirement • Internet connection • Dependent on ability of faculty • Learning & teaching altered –Similar to other on-line instruction –Learner & goal. Kathy directed Schaefer 6

MOO’s in Education Use commands to • Log in (as guest or “character) • Move to various rooms • “Talk” or emote with visitors • Produce or manipulate objects –objects in room, writing, user-defined • Bulletin board, library Kathy Schaefer 7

MOO’s in Education Examples of MOO commands • @who Who is in room, listed • look > • @examine • Description of ‘room’ See what is in ‘room’ : bows gracefully to David> –Kathy bows gracefully to David Kathy Schaefer 8

MOO’s in Education Hispano. Mundo • University of Missouri, St. Louis • Spanish conversation is focus • Text-based, no visuals • No support visible –no webmaster • E-mails, listserv bounces back Kathy Schaefer 9

MOO’s Mundo. Hispano Kathy Schaefer 10

MOO’s Diversity University • U. of Wisconsin & Marshall U. 1994 • 1 st MOO designed—classroom use • DUETS, Inc. Non-profit educ. org. • “ 1000’s of students, teachers, administrators worldwide” on website • Multimedia interaction, Netscape Kathy Schaefer 11

MOO’s Lingua. MOO • University of Texas, Dallas • Most active MOO at present time • Writing, Literature is focus • Graphic interface –easier than Mundo. H. • Academic theme: Internal e-mail, newspapers, documents, blackboards, classrooms Kathy Schaefer 12

MOO’s Lingua. MOO • Course material presentation • Student-Instructor interaction • Collaborative student projects & activities • Interaction with distant experts Kathy Schaefer 13

MOO’s Lingua. MOO Designed to Foster • Critical thinking skills • Problem solving • Independent, self-directed learning • Following “pages” are from Lingua MOO --Can sign in as “guest” Kathy Schaefer 14

MOO’s Lingua. Moo Kathy Schaefer 15

MOO’s Lingua. Moo Kathy Schaefer 16

MOO’s Lingua. Moo Kathy Schaefer 17

MOO’s Lingua. Moo Kathy Schaefer 18

MOO’s Lingua. Moo Kathy Schaefer 19

MOO’s Web site • Lingua Moo http: //lingua. utdallas. edu: 7000/ • Diversity University Main Campus http: //www. du. org • Mundo Hispano – telnet admiral. umsl. edu 8888 Kathy Schaefer 20

MOO’s Lingua. Moo Where Did They Go? • Active until 1997 -8 • Conferences, presentations, OREG – No current activity found (conferences, etc. ) • Limited classroom use • Chat, IRC, On-line gaming took over • Course. Ware Blackboard, Web. CT • Programming –is sophisticated for MOOs Kathy Schaefer 21

MOO’s Lingua. Moo Where Did They Go? • Conversation (e-mail) with MOO developer (DU Instructor since 1994) • States: Lingua MOO is the only one currently used for classroom/teaching • “More popular synchronous web methods (chat)” have taken place of MOO’s • Technology --Commands/techniques difficult Kathy Schaefer 22

MOO’s EDCC 892 Kathy Schaefer Kathleen A. Schaefer, 2002