VCRI

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VCRI

• A groupware application for CSCL research
• Jos Jaspers Marcel Broeken
• Educational sciences
• Utrecht University

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CroCiCL project

• Marcel Broeken

• Jos Jaspers

Computerized Representation Of Coordination In
Collaborative Learning
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Overview

• CSCL
• VCRI
• Tcl VCRI
• Conclusion discussion

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CSCL

• Computer supported collaborative learning
• Important topic in education
• Subjects about 17 years, college track
• Project focus on participation
• 3 new tools, 3 experiments

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VCRI

• Groupware application
• WYSIWIS
• Different toolsets
• Logging ? MEPA
• Dynamic loading
• Extensible

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A bit of history

• 1995 - 2007
• TCP ? TC3 ? VCRI
• Visual Basic ? Delphi ? Tcl
• 4 Tools ? 14 tools

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VCRI tools

• Chat
• Collaborative text processing
• Diagram
• Forum
• Information sources
• Selector
• Planner

• Logbook
• Reflector
• Notes
• 3D Visualization of participation
• New tools
• Visualization of topic space
• 3D Argumentative diagram

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Demo!
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Architecture

• Client/server
• Remote sourcing/dynamic loading
• Communication via (secure) http
• Whenever possible cross-platform

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Tools

• TclHttpd
• Tclkit, Starkit
• Metakit
• incr Tcl
• TkHTML
• TkOGL

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Challenges

• Complexity, redundancy legacy code
• Eye candy
• Cutting edge different interests
• Platform dependencies

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Printing

• From screen to paper
• Formatting
• Conversion
• From pc to printer
• Printer detection
• Printer selection

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Binary extensions

• Dependencies and Starkits
• Platform dependency vs. cross-platform
• Stubs
• A dynamic linking mechanism for Tcl, Tk and
  extensions
• Slow adoption

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Solutions

• Object oriented design
• Use students advise
• KISS
• Go to 5th European TUG

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Future

• Everything OO
• Test first, code later (XP)
• Starsyncing
• Cross platform
• Linux, Mac OS X and Windows
• Educational release

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Link

• CroCiCL project
• http/edugate.fss.uu.nl/crocicl/

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Discussion

• Should all extensions be stubs-enabled?
• How do Tcl and OO mix?
• Better name than VCRI?
• Is it realistic to make cross-platform
  availability a goal?

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