The authorware we are proposing is a tool that will: (1) allow easy integration of different software components into a web-site by users with no programming experience necessary; (2) be interoperable with other software applications via XML and other standards, and (3) be easy to use and require no special hardware or software to be purchased by the users. Software components that will be given special consideration are interactive and collaborative support functions like forums, chat groups, joint document development, and interactive applets.The intent is to create online communities that are found in newsgroups, chat rooms, and other community oriented web sites. Except in this case, the users of the site will be able to use the Internet based multimedia authorware to create their own interactive educational web sites without any knowledge of HTML or any scripting language and without having to install new software on their computers. Content can then be added to these web sites to customize it to each particular learning group.Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:Phase I will investigate different interoperable software standards and collaborative learning software components. From this research a prototype of the educational authorware tool will be created. This educational authorware tool will work with other software applications for tracking and management of student progress. The working prototype of the educational authorware tool will be demonstrated via a web site. Key components of the prototype web site will be:A simple user friendly authorware tool that allows auser to graphically select JavaBeans, applets or othertypes of interactive and multimedia software objectsfrom a library and to easily define their interaction. Web pages created by users will be stored on serversmaintained by Rodriguez & Harris, LLC Online content stored in XML format to facilitateinteroperability with other software applications. A small library of components that are needed tocreate a working example of how to apply for a jobor acquire and practice employability skills. A working multimedia example of how to apply fora job or acquire and practice an employability skill.In Phase II of this project Rodriguez & Harris, LLC will focus on creating a robust version of the Internet educational authorware tool that is able access a large library of preexisting components and is interoperable with a number of other software programs. We will also partner with a number of schools, companies, and other organizations to start creating new environments, using this tool. Templates that implement different types of teaching methods will be added to speed up the web site development process for teachers.Potential Commercial Applications.The product/service that we propose to make will significantly reduce the barrier to nontechnical people who would like to have their own learning web sites. We expect to see a large number of nontechnical people creating their own customized learning environments. Large organizations and for-profit companies will be charged for this access after an initial trial period. Members of these organizations will then have access to the authorware tool and space to store their content on the Internet. One possible market would be universities who are marketing themselves to the nontraditional student. These universities may have professors who have the content but not the tools to easily deliver their services to a widely dispersed group of learners. If this tool is easy to use then these professors could then reach a whole new group of people that need to retool because of changing business demands.
