DC vs MC for novices (was Re: [RevDocs] Sorry for barging in, but..)

[Jerry Balzano]

I'm posting this both to RevDocs and RevInEd because I think it's 
relevant to both.  Hans Kleinen Hammans makes a number of excellent 
points here, and a response by Judy Perry (not included) amplifies and 
extends these.  The point at issue is the extent to which the Dreamcard 
(DC) interface is "too complex" to be dealt with effectively by a 
novice, and whether MetaCard (MC) is a better alternative.

I agree that the DC interface is rather intimidating at first, but like 
Judy, I kind of like the current version of the Tool palette.  Where 
things get really daunting, I think, is when one has to deal with the 
multi-paned multifarious Property Inspector.  Here I think that a way 
toward a novice-friendly solution might lie in something like Xavier 
("MisterX") Bury's "PropsN2O" palette, which provides a thin strip of 
icons mediating access to the different panels of the Prop Inspector.  
And just as many of the Tools on the Tools palette might get safely 
(and easily) ignored by most novices, so some of these icons (Geometry, 
Database, Property Profiles) will also go mostly unused by novices.  I 
personally think MC's interface is too lean; and I've seen kids work 
with programs that seem visually overwhelming at first, like 
Dreamweaver, quite effectively.

Assuming that a redesign of Dreamcard is unrealistic to expect, and not 
an unmixed blessing in any case, one could try to impose something like 
HyperCard's old "User Levels" where lower levels simplified the menus 
and some of the dialogs.  OTOH, whenever I taught kids HyperCard, we 
always stayed in User Level 5, and in fact my attempts to start kids 
off with lower user levels were probably less, not more, successful, 
than starting them off in userlevel 5.  Perhaps kids are better at 
ignoring clutter (e.g. in their rooms) and irrelevant detail than we 
are and than we (accordingly) think they are.

	- Jerry


On May 5, 2005, at 10:50 AM, kleinenhammans wrote:

> When I joined this group, earlier this afternoon, my eyes were
> focused
> at "Education Professionals", not so much at Enhancing Documentation.
> Browsing through the messages, I found out what it really is about.
> Sorry for barging in.
> But may I say a few things anyway?
>
> I use XTalk in education for two purposes.
> First:
> I build stacks for self-study for my pupils ( like so many of us ).
> (snip)

> Second:
> I have introduced computer programming as a new subject for all our
> pupils in age group 14- 15. I know that the languages generally
> accepted and used by "them" are no good for such a purpose ( I have
> suffered enough 30 years ago when there was little else than FORTRAN
> for processing your research data ). XTalk is the only solution here.
> Here I use Metacard too. The kids do love it, all of them. Some of
> them
> continue by themselves. Many work on it at home, together with their
> parents. Of course I had to write my own course manual.
> For the time being I shall not use any of the versions of Revolution
> because:
> - Revolution in its present form would scare them, it's too great,
> too
> bewildering, too rich.
> - The tools palettes, with all these different buttons, fields, etc,
> are far too confusing for children.
> So for the time being it will be MetaCard.
> (snip)

> My suggestion:
> - Develop an extremely simple version of Revolution. No frills. As
> litte icons as possible. A very limited toolbar. The mere essentials
> of
> commands, functions, etc. A bit like the first Hypercard versions,
> but
> up to date, and including the nice things like internet access, audio
> and video clips.
> - Consequently, the documentation will be bound to be simple and
> straightforward. It will be easily downloadable and printable of
> course.
> - Make it accessible to a large public, not only schools, but also
> newbies in general, including those poor BASIC victims.
> - Use the LEGO formula: the starter kit is very small, and free, or
> available at a very low price. When the user is hooked, upgrades (
> plus
> additional documentation ) are available.
> Kind regards,
> Hans Kleinen Hammans