1. A user logs on with his first and last name. If a new user, system sets up to accept new user, otherwise it checks password. A user can look at anyones’ resume´. From his own resume´ he can set his password and gain access to the network. The user is automatically authorised for network use, but has a chance to quit before entering it.
2. A user’s resume´ card is also his repository for notes, scratchpads, clipboards, and other pertinent information. When he logs on again, all of these will be reset with the information they contained when he logged off last time. This enables a smooth continuance of work begun before. Other people, of course cannot access this information from his resume´ card.
3. The network always opens and closes with the *Ideas page. It is here that the user must learn to help himself in navigating the system. There are two ways to enter the system, either from the first page of the story or through a direct route to a specific page. Due to the nature of the objects in the story itself, it may prove to be very tedious to re-trace steps through the story in order to get to a specific page to continue on work begun at a previous session. The user has tools to facilitate the leaving of traces so as to be able to go directly to a page of his choice. The importance of this would be much clearer when many users have created many pages in the story. This functions much as the “saved game” function of games. It is necessary to return to this page anytime the user wishes to log off the network. He then has a chance to make a note to ease his shortcuts next time. The computer makes an annotation for the user, but the user must make a further note in order to explain to themselves why they wish to return to that point next time, or at least what was there of interest.
4. Now the user enters the network proper. The “Story-Maker” module is the central node of the network, as the entire net depends on being “managed” from this module. All the other databases, while functioning as standalones, are really adjuncts to this module. You can create new objects in the databases, but they are then to be used somewhere, in the story, for example. The module can begin as an empty shell, or as a continuing shell. Either way, once opened, the module cannot be locked. It is open-ended and any and all users may contribute to it. A myriad of tools is available here. Students may do the following:
A. Access the Sounds Stack: and thus the sound libraries. This in order to create sound buttons to place into the document. The sounds can be taken as presented in the selections windows, or modified to personal use. Any button from the sound libraries may also be used.
B. Access the Clip Art Catalogue: this is a database based on title, or keyword descriptions of a series of graphic images. These images are the contributions of anyone who creates a new drawing. Each image is open for modification only to it’s original creator, but available for use by all users. When an image is copied, it automatically creates a reference noting authorship.
C. Access to Memos, or Stick-it-Notes are available. These are public memos which can contain text & graphics, and are for public perusal. One memo per page, but you can put memos on memos, on memos................ thus a sort of “threaded” discourse can take hold.
It should be noted that many tools are replicated in all the different modules, and databases. Tools : Find, Print, Sort, take snapshots, Clipboard. Scratchpad, etc. are all available in the Story-Maker, and only those applicable are available in the other Modules.
