Re: Re: follow-up on mosquito project

[WendyPetti@xxxx]

> Now another question, since this is a cybercourse.
> When I want to use a variable in a project, the variable has to be 
> typed with the command in the command center. That means the project can't 
> be used in Presentation mode. Is there a way to type the command and 
> variables in a text box so Presentations can be used?

You have come to the right place!!

If you have MWPro, you can use the command "onreadline" in conjunction with a 
textbox to simulate a command center for the purposes of presentation mode or 
online posting. Read about it in the Vocabulary section, or check the Help 
topic, "Making a Text Box into a Command Center." (I have only recently 
learned of this feature and have not made use of it myself yet, but I'm glad 
to know it is possible, at least in MWPro.)

As for myself, I like to use sliders to control the values of variables 
interactively. It is easier for users to understand what range of values is 
acceptable; the slider displays a name for the variable; you'll never get an 
error message as you would if a user neglects to type a value after a 
variable name, and so on. For instance, visit the squares folder at 
MicroWorlds in Action to see how sliders are used to control four variables 
for drawing complex designs, such as in this project:

http://www.openworldlearning.org/owlb/squares/squares_5.htm

It would be extremely confusing to expect a user to type four values after 
the name of a procedure, but even preschoolers can drag sliders and click a 
button and see the effect of changing the values of variables.

Michael Tempel maintains a semantic distinction. The LCSI folks do describe 
the use of sliders as variables, but Michael says that they are not true 
variables but are reporters. Whatever you call them, they function in the 
same way that variables do.

Wendy