Kathy Schaefer1

MOO’s

EDCC 892

MOO’s In Education

Kathleen A. Schaefer, 2002

Kathy Schaefer2

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 Schaefer3

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 Schaefer4

MOO’s

MOO

• “Widely used, public domain programs”

• “Stable, mature environment” —Athena University

• Text-based only Eg. MundoHispano–“Like reading a book”

• Graphical front enCore X-press

• Web sites Off-line

Kathy Schaefer5

MOO’s

MOO’s in Education

Foster

• Critical thinking skills

• Problem solving

• Independent, self-directed learning

• Collaboration: groups, outside of class

• Environment building

Kathy Schaefer6

MOO’s

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 directed

Kathy Schaefer7

MOO’s

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 Schaefer8

MOO’s

MOO’s in Education

Examples of MOO commands

• @who Who is in room, listed

• look > Description of ‘room’

• @examine See what is in ‘room’

• :bows gracefully to David>

–Kathy bows gracefully to David

Kathy Schaefer9

MOO’s

MOO’s in Education

HispanoMundo

• University of Missouri, St. Louis

• Spanish conversation is focus

• Text-based, no visuals

• No support visible –no webmaster

• E-mails, listserv bounces back

Kathy Schaefer10

MOO’s MundoHispano

Kathy Schaefer11

MOO’s

Diversity University

• U. of Wisconsin & Marshall U. 1994

• 1st MOO designed—classroom use

• DUETS, Inc. Non-profit educ. org.

• “1000’s of students, teachers, administrators worldwide” on website

• Multimedia interaction, Netscape

Kathy Schaefer12

MOO’s

LinguaMOO

• University of Texas, Dallas

• Most active MOO at present time

• Writing, Literature is focus

• Graphic interface –easier than MundoH.

• Academic theme: Internal e-mail, newspapers, documents, blackboards, classrooms

Kathy Schaefer13

MOO’s

LinguaMOO

• Course material presentation

• Student-Instructor interaction

• Collaborative student projects & activities

• Interaction with distant experts

Kathy Schaefer14

MOO’s

LinguaMOO

Designed to Foster

• Critical thinking skills

• Problem solving

• Independent, self-directed learning

• Following “pages” are from Lingua MOO

--Can sign in as “guest”

Kathy Schaefer15

MOO’s LinguaMoo

Kathy Schaefer16

MOO’s LinguaMoo

Kathy Schaefer17

MOO’s LinguaMoo

Kathy Schaefer18

MOO’s LinguaMoo

Kathy Schaefer19

MOO’s LinguaMoo

Kathy Schaefer20

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 Schaefer21

MOO’s

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

• CourseWare Blackboard, WebCT

• Programming –is sophisticated for MOOs

LinguaMoo

Kathy Schaefer22

MOO’s

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

LinguaMoo

Kathy Schaefer23

MOO’s

EDCC 892

Kathleen A. Schaefer, 2002