The Gromboolia Project A MOO-based, hypertextual, literature classroom William Cole, Morehead State University Digital Resources in the Humanities 2002 10 September 2002

Project Goals Create working model of an online teaching tool for literary studies Demonstrate MOO’s status as hypertext system Explore concept of “social hypertext” (Bernstein) Bring together fields of hypertext theory and computer pedagogy

Create working model of an online teaching tool for literary studies

Demonstrate MOO’s status as hypertext system

Explore concept of “social hypertext” (Bernstein)

Bring together fields of hypertext theory and computer pedagogy

What is MOO? MOO = MUD (multi-user dungeon/domain/ dimension), Object Oriented Roots in networked roleplaying games (Adventure) Evolution from gaming (MUD1) to social (LamdaMOO) to educational/professional uses (MediaMOO) Emergence of graphical/web-based interfaces ( LinguaMOO )

MOO = MUD (multi-user dungeon/domain/ dimension), Object Oriented

Roots in networked roleplaying games (Adventure)

Evolution from gaming (MUD1) to social (LamdaMOO) to educational/professional uses (MediaMOO)

Emergence of graphical/web-based interfaces ( LinguaMOO )

Previous Scholarship: MOOs Anthropological approaches Studies of formation and behavior of virtual communities (Rheingold, Dibble) Psychological approaches Studies of “identity play,” “tiny sex,” etc. in online environments (Turkle, Stone) Pedagogical approaches Focus on practical issues: classroom management, presentation tools, etc. (Haynes and Holmevik)

Anthropological approaches

Studies of formation and behavior of virtual communities (Rheingold, Dibble)

Psychological approaches

Studies of “identity play,” “tiny sex,” etc. in online environments (Turkle, Stone)

Pedagogical approaches

Focus on practical issues: classroom management, presentation tools, etc. (Haynes and Holmevik)

Previous Scholarship: Hypertext Emphasis on solitary reader Stand-alone systems (Storyspace) Networked systems, where multiple readers are unaware of each other (WWW) “ Interaction” usually only in restricted sense Cognitive (reader “assembles” meaning) Presentational (text tailored to reader types or behaviors)

Emphasis on solitary reader

Stand-alone systems (Storyspace)

Networked systems, where multiple readers are unaware of each other (WWW)

“ Interaction” usually only in restricted sense

Cognitive (reader “assembles” meaning)

Presentational (text tailored to reader types or behaviors)

MOO as Hypertext Spatial metaphor: “rooms” connected by “exits” Hypermedia capability of web-based MOOs Integration of author and reader functions

Spatial metaphor: “rooms” connected by “exits”

Hypermedia capability of web-based MOOs

Integration of author and reader functions

Added Value of MOO Synchronous interaction on top of or within hypertext structure Unlimited variety of customizable, programmable objects Multiple authoring levels (guest, builder, programmer) requiring different technical competence Collaboration support (object sharing in enCore 3.2)

Synchronous interaction on top of or within hypertext structure

Unlimited variety of customizable, programmable objects

Multiple authoring levels (guest, builder, programmer) requiring different technical competence

Collaboration support (object sharing in enCore 3.2)

Gromboolia Project Developing on CowTown MOO (enCore-based) at Ohio State Building MOO suite (rooms, exits, and other objects) for studying and teaching the “nonsense songs” of Edward Lear “ Constructive hypertext” (Joyce) for interacting with and within literary texts Intended as extensible space, to be used by successive groups of students

Developing on CowTown MOO (enCore-based) at Ohio State

Building MOO suite (rooms, exits, and other objects) for studying and teaching the “nonsense songs” of Edward Lear

“ Constructive hypertext” (Joyce) for interacting with and within literary texts

Intended as extensible space, to be used by successive groups of students

What it is not… Not a scholarly archive Not attempting to be comprehensive or definitive Not an online course pack Want to get beyond simply presenting texts and related materials

Not a scholarly archive

Not attempting to be comprehensive or definitive

Not an online course pack

Want to get beyond simply presenting texts and related materials

Gromboolia Tour

Web Page object Sub-class of room object that allows formatting with HTML & CSS Use to create “text-rooms” that present a text and serve as forum for discussing it

Sub-class of room object that allows formatting with HTML & CSS

Use to create “text-rooms” that present a text and serve as forum for discussing it

Exit object One-way link between rooms (can create second return-link easily) Use to explore inter/contextual relationships of literary texts Can create sub-classes to differentiate link types.

One-way link between rooms (can create second return-link easily)

Use to explore inter/contextual relationships of literary texts

Can create sub-classes to differentiate link types.

Note object Simple, independent nodes: can be left in rooms and other containers Use to add instructor- or student-created notes, comments, & interpretations to text Can also be typed by author, function, etc.

Simple, independent nodes: can be left in rooms and other containers

Use to add instructor- or student-created notes, comments, & interpretations to text

Can also be typed by author, function, etc.

Future Development Add ’bots and other “toys” to make space less static, more playful Build tools for monitoring user exploration/navigation of space Explore user-authoring as means of enriching spaces and expanding project scope

Add ’bots and other “toys” to make space less static, more playful

Build tools for monitoring user exploration/navigation of space

Explore user-authoring as means of enriching spaces and expanding project scope

Questions? FOR MORE INFO... Contact me: bill@donutage.org