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Project Summary

The Center for LifeLong Learning and Design at the University of Colorado is involved in developing computational systems that support the integration of working and learning. One example of this is Agentsheets, a prototype authoring environment that has been developed at the Center. Agentsheets allows authors to create learning environments about a specific topic in which learners (or end users) then construct and experiment with simulations. An example topic is local area networking. Users learn about how different workstations fit together and use different networking protocols. Simulation components are called "agents" which interact with each other on a grid or "sheet." Learners participate in the simulation by constructing the topology and by controlling the agents. By giving learners control, they are encouraged to explore their own task in their own way. They learn by doing, "on demand." Agentsheets follows, but does not yet fully implement, a multi-faceted system design which can include specification, construction, simulation, hypertext explanation, critics, and a catalog of applications. It is the goal of teh project to improve Agentsheets by incorporating additional features to its system design, and to evaluate it in classrooms or other learning situations. The Center also collaborates with Apple in transfering design aspects of Agentsheets to a new platform. Agentsheets is currently implemented in MCL. Apple envisions a version of Agentsheets implemented in a new, internal programming environment. The goals of this port are improved maintainability and distribution.

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