[Sugar-devel] annotation support in abiword (was Fwd: uwog - r29358 - in abiword/trunk: . plugins/collab/backends/service/xp plugins/collab/core/packet/xp plugins/collab/core/plugin/xp plugins/collab/core/session/xp plugins/opendocument plugins/o

[Gary Martin]

Hi Martin,

On 12 Oct 2010, at 00:51, Martin Sevior <msevior at gmail.com> wrote:

> I think the main point of the annotation feature for Write will be
> allow teachers to correct children's writing.
> 
> They can simply highlight a region and put in their correction or
> suggestion. Children can see the correction along with their original
> text. In abiword we do this with a dialog and a popup textbox but
> we've disabled dialogs in Write. I'd be interested in receiving
> suggestions for how to do this UI for Write and if it is wanted at
> all.

Do you have any screen shots available showing the new Abiword annotation features in action? I couldn't see any in the online documentation.

Regards,
--Gary

> Cheers
> 
> Martin
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 10:33 AM,  <forster at ozonline.com.au> wrote:
>>> ** Ideally we should try harder to better layer complexity in the  Write,
>>> Calculate, et al UIs so that you need to drill down to the  more complex
>>> features while the common/novice features are exposed  early at the top
>>> level — but it seams there's only so far you can  take this (Write and
>>> Calculate being on the cusp of this cliff edge).
>> 
>> Maybe this question would be better on IAEP or SUR because its about
>> pedagogy more than technology?
>> 
>> More features just for features sake is not a good idea, Sugar is an
>> educational tool not an office productivity tool, not all new office
>> features need to be included. I would like to hear from teachers on this
>> question. They might, for example,  like annotation in a paperless classroom
>> as a way of marking essays.
>> 
>> I agree, we should try harder to layer complexity, in line with the goal of
>> low entry and high ceiling.
>> 
>> I think that children handle complexity and incomplete information much
>> better than adults so its not necessary to give them cut down versions of
>> Activities. As long as they can ignore features that they do not need and
>> still get unobstructed access to the simplified features they are happy.
>> Adults however are more likely to get stressed if presented with too many
>> features.
>> 
>> I looked at Calculate again. I am happy with the features. You can still do
>> 9+1=10 by ignoring the extra features. None of the menus obscure simple
>> calculator operation. If you select hexadecimal then 9+1=0xa but quitting
>> and resuming reverts to decimal operation so it seems experimenting is
>> likely to be harmless to simple calculator use.
>> 
>> I share some responsibility for encouraging feature creep on TurtleArt.
>> Maybe complexity could be layered better but I dont thinks it needs a
>> version with it disabled. The goal should be that basic blocks, repeat,
>> forward, right, are the ones most obviously presented to the learner and no
>> amount of random clicking should make them not discoverable. Maybe the
>> pallettes can be reordered to emphasise beginner blocks.
>> 
>> With write, the goal would be to emphasise the beginner tools and
>> deemphasise the advanced features, and make recovery from random clicking
>> easy.
>> 
>> Tony
>> 
>> 
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