Authoring

• more tools so authors can practically create and modify more of the activities
  • ordering and re-ordering of pages within an activity
  • re-ordering of activities in unit TOC
  • branching
  • data table connected to bar graph, and line graph
  • single value data collector connected to data table
  • translation authoring
• improve basic authoring tool
  • automatic saving
  • author can view student mode, either as a whole or individual objects (e.g. questions and scaffolding)
  •  support for undo
  • viewing changes
  • Version control -- Dev authoring and school releases
  • updating school versions without losing student data
    • freeze a version for each class
    • be able to give a revised version to other classes
    • able to keep track of and recover which version each  class used
  • associate coaches with individual questions OR an individual page
  • a technical hint system
    • different categories -- some shared, some specific
      • graph use
      • drawing tool use
      • setting up probes
      •  help with a specific experimental procedure
      • help with a model -- could be general or specific
    • UI for technical hints -- ideas
      • roll-over or pop-up with an explanation (bigger than the present rollover text)
      • rt-click to learn more about it
      • help mode -- graphically dramatic info about all the buttons and regions
      • movie mode
      • paper clip (box below) mode
      • wrench icon or link from a word mode
      • go to another tabbed window:
        1. here are the tools on this object (e.g. graph)
        2. movie of how to use it e.g. a playback example (video tutorial)
        3. FAQ: what do these different tools do?
      • separate activities explaining how to use the elements e.g. graph or model
  • glossary access
  • visual glossary material
• scaffolding issues
  • call the questions "leveled questions"; scaffolding is a general word for hints
  •  display student view of scaffolding during authoring
  • be able to enter a question without scaffolding, then add scaffolding easily later
  • how standard is the level structure?
  • who decides the scaffolding availability?
  • are there other level features besides scaffolded questions?

•  improve parts of tool that already work:
  • wysiwyg text editing
  • scaffolded question authoring

• better support for collaborative authoring
  • integrated content management
  • support for shared objects
  • viewing changes
• make an authoring tool that teachers are comfortable using
• teacher guide
  • how to access it
  • associated with each unit? activity? page? question? (correct answer space)
  • teacher version shows guidance and answers?

Authoring writing tasks

Friction

• check 34,56 math activities 

Electricity

•  electrical resistance activity with NetLogo model
• 34, 56 math activities

Plants

Clouds