Authoring Summit Notes

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Last updated: Sept 25, 2008Version comment
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Notes from Authoring Summit for Sousa

Sept. 2008, Dearborn, Michgan

Mark (Sousa Ideas)

  • Use Fluid in-line editor for titles, descriptions, etc.
    • Use defaults initially (Click to Edit Title)
    • Allow edits where ever text appears.
  • Uses Fluid Reorderer for sequencing elements.
  • Use TinyMCE for rich text.
  • Consider flow between elements with states:
    • break/no break
    • align left/right/center
  • workflow in Sousa has problems.
    • its good to be able to use existing media objects, but ...
    • uploading/creating items first is not practical for users.
    • need to create new pages with hints on what to do (could be done with templates)
    • too many views: select a page (or create), then edit it. That's all. This would require Ajax/REST.
    • allow uploads during page edit.
    • allow creation during page edit.
  • parameters should either override defaults or shift to a page.
    • create a drop down box for parameters.
  • search to find things with tagging and metadata
  • extend the URL object to include other Sousa pages. (page navigation)
  • bounding boxes could have many styles: thick/thin lines, dashed, dotted, colored, etc.
  • cloning / templating is needed.

CARET

  • GoogleDocs in Sakai (Githens, etc.)
  • three levels (John)
    • create/import
    • add active areas
    • orchestrating behavior of active areas (workflow, etc.)

Nico's work at CARET

  • page view, dash view, tool view.
  • page comment widget
  • YouTube widgets
  • this page is a top level page, or not (top pages show up in a menu)

Templating is important, but at what level?

  • whole page patterns
  • element patterns (pictures with captions, for example)

NYU

  • faculty wants simple access to media
  • simple page assembly.
  • managing permissions is important.
  • collaborative authoring

Fluid

  • In-line editor is simple to include, but very limited.
  • Reorderer is much faster, very pretty.
  • Uploader might eliminate the messy RSF menus.
  • Uploader also allows adding elements during edit (rather than before).
  • Uploader is flash based and requires Gears plugin.

Key Authoring Concepts

  • Templating
    • Document
    • Elements
    • Organization
    • Quick/Start seeding of content (instructional, defaulting, etc)
  • Page Layout
  • Navigation
  • Styling
  • Object Linking and Embedding, Creation
    • Sakai
    • Outside
    • Widgets
    • Control Parameters
  • Sectioning
  • Cut/Copy/Paste/Import/Export
    • Standards
  • Composition: editing, text entry
  • Selection: lists, seach, tagging (semantic, free form)
  • Undo, redo, revisions
  • localization support, multi-language support
  • accessibility
  • Metadata (Copyright clearance, tagging, etc)
  • Annotation
  • Access control / sharing
  • Upload / Download
  • WYSIWYG, previewing, view as student
  • Workflow and moderation

Proposed Authoring work:

  • TinyMCE
  • Entity Picker
  • A way to create entities
  • A way to display the page