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\layout Title
Introduction to the Learning
\emph on
Online
\emph default
Network with CAPA
\layout Standard
\added_space_top vfill \pagebreak_bottom \align center
Laboratory for Instructional Technology in Education
\newline
and the
\newline
Office of Medical Education Research and Development
\newline
Michigan State University
\newline
\layout Standard
\pagebreak_bottom
\begin_inset LatexCommand \tableofcontents{}
\end_inset
\layout Section
Introduction to LON-CAPA
\layout Comment
This is a comment which will not show in any other rendering of this document.
I will use them to document my observations as I work through this tutorial.
\layout Comment
Imagine a big
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
IMHO
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
on all of these comments; I'm just going to give you my comments straight
out.
I'm not attached to them and won't be offended by anything you say or do
about them.
\layout Standard
LON-CAPA is a web-based interface that helps to organize and present your
course website, deliver and manage problem problems, and manage student
enrollment.
All author functions are done using a web browser (Netscape 4.x or higher
is recommended) and the LON-CAPA Author Interface.
The URL for LON-CAPA is
\family typewriter
http://s10.lite.msu.edu
\family default
.
\layout Standard
At this time, you should have:
\layout Itemize
developed your objectives for your course.
\layout Itemize
developed your problems for testing and identified the question formats.
The Template for Mapping Website to LON-CAPA that you filled in will assist
you in the process of creating your course website structure in LON-CAPA.
\layout Standard
This tutorial describes how to use the various author functions available
in LON-CAPA.
\layout Section
The LON-CAPA Author Interface
\layout Subsection
Login as Course Author
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Course Author}
\end_inset
\layout Standard
To begin using LON-CAPA, you first need to log in to your account on LON-CAPA.
Open your web browser and navigate to the LON-CAPA URL:
\family typewriter
http://s10.lite.msu.edu/
\family default
.
You will be presented with a log in screen as in figure
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{LON-CAPA Log in screen}
\end_inset
.
\begin_float fig
\layout Caption
\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{LON-CAPA Log in screen}
\end_inset
LON-CAPA Log in screen
\layout Standard
\align center
\begin_inset Figure size 297 234
file login.eps
width 3 50
flags 11
\end_inset
\end_float
\layout Standard
Fill in the Username and Password boxes with your information.
Then press the Login button.
This will take you to your LON-CAPA User Roles menu.
\layout Description
Note: Your Username is your PILOT ID, which is the part of your PILOT email
address to the left of the @.
Your password is your PILOT email password.
Both the PILOT ID and the password are case sensitive, so make sure you
type upper- and lower-case letters correctly.
\layout Subsection
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Author Remote Control}
\end_inset
Author Remote Control
\layout Comment
Comment on the remote controls: I'll only mention this once, but imagine
this comment exists everywhere a remote control image is used.
The whole
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
remote control
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
metaphor is fundamentally flawed and probably can't be salvaged.
Why is it flawed?
\layout Comment
\SpecialChar ~
\layout Comment
1.
The remote control invokes a metaphor, that of remote controls.
However, remote controls are useful in the real world, despite the overwhelming
complexity of modern remotes, for three major reasons: One, they never,
ever, ever change.
Two, they provide immense amounts of tactile feedback, allowing one to
overcome the complexity of using one by putting the knowlege into motor
memory.
(There are equivalent usability principles in usability, as well; look
up Fitt's Law, for instance.) Three, they all basically do the same thing;
pick up an unfamiliar TV control and you at least know in advance there
will be numbers for channel changing, vol up and down, chan up and down,
mute, etc.
The remotes used in this system do not have any of these properties.
Remotes are actually horrid UI, because they are very, very difficult to
learn; they make up for it by being useful and persistent.
\layout Comment
Further, remotes should *do* things.
This remote is like a remote that no matter what button you push, it invokes
a menu.
Most remotes have
\series bold
one
\series default
explicit
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
menu
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
button to invoke a menu that has all the feature that aren't worth valuable
remote control space.
\layout Comment
In fact, the metaphor is so unsuccessful that any moderately savvy internet
user will almost immediately come to conceptualize the remote as just another
list of links, albiet a clumsy and inconvenient one.
Why not give them that in the first place?
\layout Comment
\SpecialChar ~
\layout Comment
2.
Even the simplest
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
remote
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
I see in the tutorial has eight buttons, which nearly immediately becomes
seventeen (!) buttons, all incomprehensible, and I didn't get a chance
to count during the interview, but I saw a remote flash by (student remote?
admin remote? that wouldn't matter as much) that had at least twenty, probably
24 buttons, again, all or nearly all incomprehensible.
This is needlessly intimidating.
\layout Comment
\SpecialChar ~
\layout Comment
3.
By commiting to this
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
remote control
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
layout, you commit to a remote control's layout limitations, except that
an actual remote control can get away with a 6pt or smaller font, or wierd
specialized symbols, or whatnot.
I'm looking at a (real) remote control right now that manages to get
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
channel return
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
onto one button.
That whole phrase fits *twice* into the space the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
ROLES
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
button takes up on my printout! So in actuality, you're commiting to something
no sane remote control designer could deal with.
Moreover, I observe that on a real remote, the vast majority of buttons
are labelled with one conceptual entity (i.e.,
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
1
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
,
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
5
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
,
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
FF
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
,
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
[the pause symbol]
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
, etc)., not
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Change User
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
which is two entities by my count, at least for an initial user.
\layout Comment
\SpecialChar ~
\layout Comment
4.
Requiring the user to mouse over something to see what it does is not a
solution.
Limiting yourself to an 8 by 2 array of characters to explain yourself
compounds the problem even more.
(Another over-literal extension of the remote control metaphor.) Also, as
you may have observed, the accessibility of this is nil.
\layout Comment
\SpecialChar ~
\layout Comment
The upshot is that the only upside to the remote control is a moderately
pleasing graphic; the downsides are pretty much everything, up to and including
possible illegality under accessability laws.
Unfortunately, I do not see any way to salvage any aspect of the remote
control; it's going to suck until it's replaced.
Pleasing graphics are relatively easy to come by nowadays; it should not
drive the design.
I'll admit (freely!) I'm not a graphics designer...
graphics designers aren't web developers (designers), either.
\layout Comment
\SpecialChar ~
\layout Comment
Also, based on my relatively little info, I think you're data-mining the
web logs to see what people actually use.
This is good.
We may need to do some really simple stuff before he finishes.
Raw statistics on what buttons are pressed most often can probably be interpret
ed easily enough for our purposes.
No matter what the final design is, it should emphasize the two or three
commands used day in and day out, as determined by empirical analysis,
and shuffle the other commands onto another sub menu or sub menus.
Then, use the additional space you'll have (even if you keep the same size
window) and actually *spell out* the options.
\layout Standard
The Author Remote Control, show in figure
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{Author Remote Control Figure}
\end_inset
, will automatically load whenever you log in to LON-CAPA as the course
instructor.
The Author Remote Control is a separate window in your browser, so you
may position it on the screen where you can make the best use of it.
The Remote Control is a tool that allows you to switch between functions
and roles within LON-CAPA.
\begin_float fig
\layout Caption
Author Remote Control
\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{Author Remote Control Figure}
\end_inset
\layout Standard
\begin_inset Figure size 164 387
file authorRemote.eps
flags 8
\end_inset
\end_float
Of the eight choices on this menu, only two (ROLES and LOGOUT) make *any*
sort of sense on a first glance.
Abbreviations are evil in this sort of application and should be used as
a truly last resort.
\layout Standard
When you move your mouse over the buttons in the remote, the sixteen gray
boxes will show a reminder of what that button does.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
ROLES (CHOOSE ROLE)
\series default
allows you to select which user role to assume for this session.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
COM (COMMUNICATION)
\series default
allows you to access the communication functions in the system.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
CUSR (USER ROLES)
\series default
brings up a page that allows you to create new users and change user privileges.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
CSTR (CONSTRUCT)
\series default
displays the construction space for your account.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
RES (RESOURCE SPACE)
\series default
allows you to browse the LON-CAPA network directory.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
EGRD (ENTER GRADES)
\series default
is used to enter grades for students enrolled in your course.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
SRC (SEARCH LIBRARY)
\series default
brings up a screen that lets you search the LON-CAPA resources using multiple
criteria.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
LOGOUT (LOGOUT)
\series default
will log you out of the LON-CAPA system.
\layout Section
Creating Content Using LON-CAPA
\layout Standard
LON-CAPA provides three types of resources for organizing your course website.
LON-CAPA refers to these resources as Content Pages, Problems, and Maps.
Maps may be either of two types: Sequences or Pages.
You will use these LON-CAPA resources to build the outline, or structure,
for the presentation of your course to your students.
\layout Itemize
A
\series bold
Content Page
\series default
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Content Page}
\end_inset
displays course content.
It is mostly a conventional HTML page.
\layout Comment
Check this; is it exactly like HTML pages?
\layout Itemize
A
\series bold
Problem
\series default
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Problem}
\end_inset
resource represents problems for the students to solve, with answers stored
in the system.
These resources are stored in files that must use the extension
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
.problem
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
\layout Itemize
A
\series bold
Map
\series default
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Map}
\end_inset
resource of the
\series bold
Sequence
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Sequence}
\end_inset
\series default
type represents a programmed series of events.
The users of this resource can use array keys or NAV buttons to follow
the sequence.
These resources are stored in files that must use the extension
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
.sequence
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
\layout Comment
What
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
arrow keys
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
? Surely not the ones on the keyboard\SpecialChar \ldots{}
\layout Itemize
A
\series bold
Map
\series default
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Map}
\end_inset
resource of the
\series bold
Page
\series default
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Page}
\end_inset
type display multiple resources together.
For example, a page of problems will appears as a problem set.
These resources are stored in files that must use the extension
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
.page
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
\layout Subsection
Description of the Construction Space
\layout Standard
\begin_float fig
\layout Caption
Construction Space
\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{Construction Space Figure}
\end_inset
\end_float
The Construction Space, as seen in figure
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{Construction Space Figure}
\end_inset
, is the section of LON-CAPA where you create and manage your course resources.
The Construction Space consists of a green tool bar at the top of the page
and a list of all directories and resources below.
\layout Standard
\begin_inset Tabular
<lyxtabular version="2" rows="10" columns="2">
<features rotate="false" islongtable="true" endhead="0" endfirsthead="0" endfoot="0" endlastfoot="0">
<column alignment="center" valignment="top" leftline="true" rightline="false" width="" special="">
<column alignment="left" valignment="top" leftline="true" rightline="true" width="5in" special="">
<row topline="true" bottomline="true" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
\series bold
Button Name
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="left" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
\series bold
Description
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="false" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Publish this Resource
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Publishes the current resource.
This presents a publishing window where you can provide information for
metadata, keywords, language, etc.
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="false" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
List Directory
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Lists the contents of the current working directory
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="false" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Copy
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Type a new name in the entry box to make a copy the current resource
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="false" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Browse
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Opens a file/directory browser for your local computer.
Use this to select a file to upload.
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="false" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Upload File
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Uploads the selected file to your Construction Space
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="false" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Retrieve Old Version
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Load an older version of a resource if you have multiple versions
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="false" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Delete
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Deletes the current resource
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="false" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Rename
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Type a new name in the associated entry box to rename a resource
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
<row topline="true" bottomline="true" newpage="false">
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="false" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
New Subdirectory
\end_inset
</cell>
<cell multicolumn="0" alignment="center" valignment="top" topline="true" bottomline="false" leftline="true" rightline="true" rotate="false" usebox="none" width="" special="">
\begin_inset Text
\layout Standard
Type a name in the entry box to create a new directory
\end_inset
</cell>
</row>
</lyxtabular>
\end_inset
\layout Subsection
How to Create New Content Pages
\layout Standard
\series bold
Content Pages
\series default
are HTML documents that display the course information you are presenting.
These documents can be created in any order.
\layout Comment
Is this worth mentioning?
\layout Standard
To create new Content Pages, do the following:
\layout Comment
Is step one necessary? I don't see how it could be.
\layout Enumerate
Click the
\series bold
CSTR
\series default
button on the LON-CAPA remote.
You web page will change to your Construction Space.
\layout Enumerate
In Location bar of your browser, type in full URL of the new Content Page.
Make sure the last part of the URL ends with
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
.html
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
, for example,
\emph on
http://www.s10.lite.msu.edu/priv/directory/new_resource.html
\emph default
.
Press the Return or Enter key.
\layout Enumerate
You should see something like the following message:
\series bold
File not found: /home/wmsonj/priv/directory/new_resource.html
\series default
, and an Edit button.
An HTML editor opens with a simple page template.
\layout Enumerate
Type the content into the editor,
\series bold
OR
\series default
copy and paste HTML source code into the editor.
\layout Enumerate
Optionally, click the
\series bold
View
\series default
button to preview your Content Page.
\layout Enumerate
Finally, click the
\series bold
Save this
\series default
button
\series bold
OR
\series default
click the
\series bold
Save and then attempt to clean HTML
\series default
button.
\layout Standard
Repeat this process as many times as necessary to create your Content Pages.
\layout Subsection
How to Edit Existing Content Pages
\layout Standard
You may edit any any Content Pages that have been created.
\layout Standard
To edit Content Pages:
\layout Enumerate
Click the
\series bold
CSTR
\series default
button on the LON-CAPA Remote.
Your web page will change to your Construction Space.
\layout Enumerate
Click on the link for the name of the Content Page to edit.
The Content Page editor will load and display the current edition of the
Content Page.
\layout Enumerate
Press the Edit button.
Edit the HTML code, or copy and paste HTML source code into the editor.
\layout Enumerate
Optionally, click the
\series bold
View
\series default
button to preview your Content Page.
\layout Enumerate
Finally, click the
\series bold
Save this
\series default
button
\series bold
OR
\series default
click the
\series bold
Save and then attempt to clean HTML
\series default
button.
If you do not do this, your work will not be saved.
\layout Subsection
Creating Online Problems Using LON-CAPA
\layout Subsubsection
Problems Types
\layout Standard
There are five types of problems that can be created with the LON-CAPA system:
Radio Response, Option Response, String Response, Numerical Response, and
Formula Response.
You will need to identify which types of problem you want to use and create
appropriate questions for your course.
\layout Subsubsection
Radio Response
\begin_inset LatexCommand \index{Radio Response}
\end_inset
Problems
\layout Standard
Radio Response problems represent multiple choice questions.
\layout Standard
True/False problems present the student with one question that can be answered
true or false.
\layout Standard
Multiple choice problems are created almost identically to True/False problems.
Multiple choice problems contain 3-10 foils.
You may display 3-5 foils for each problem and the system randomly picks
the choices that are presented to the student.
\layout Standard
Option Response Problems
\layout Standard
Option Response problems present foils to the student with drop-down boxes.
Option response questions may be presented as a collection of True/False
type questions or as a matching type question.
The student must choose the correct answer for each part of the question.
\layout Standard
String Response Problems
\layout Standard
String Response problems are problems in which the student submits a string
of characters for the answer.
Examples of string response questions are vocabulary tests, short answer
and entering chemical formulas.
\layout Standard
Numerical Response Problems
\layout Standard
Numerical Response problems are answered by entering a number and (optionally)
a unit, such as 2.5 m/s^2.
Tolerance and significant digits can be specified as well.
\layout Standard
Formula Response Problems
\layout Standard
Formula Response problems are questions in which the student types in a
math formula for the answer.
If the answer is "x^2 - 11", the student can enter "x^2 - 11", "x*x - 11",
"x^2 + 21 - 10", etc.
Functions such as cos, sin, and exp are accepted as well as the operators
(), +, -, *, and /.
\layout Section
Appendix A: Student Interface
\layout Standard
\begin_float fig
\layout Caption
Student Remote Control
\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{Student Remote Control}
\end_inset
\end_float
The Student Remote Control will automatically load whenever you log in to
a LON-CAPA course as a student.
The Student Remote Control contains most of the functions of the Author
Remote Control and the following additional functions.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
NAV (NAVIGATE CONTENTS)
\series default
allows you to directly access resources from the course outline.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
ARROWS (LEFT and RIGHT)
\series default
allows you to move to the backward or forward through the course.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
GRDS (MY GRADES)
\series default
allows you to check your grades in the courses you are taking.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
SBKM (SET BOOKMARK)
\series default
allows you to bookmark pages for easy access.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
VBKM (VIEW BOOKMARK)
\series default
displays your bookmarks for easy access to bookmarked resources.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
ANOT (ANOTATE)
\series default
allows you to create personal notes.
\layout Itemize
\series bold
LOGOUT (LOGOUT)
\series default
will log you out of the LON-CAPA system.
\the_end
FreeBSD-CVSweb <freebsd-cvsweb@FreeBSD.org>