LoveLearn
11-09-2007, 02:28 AM
The more I've read about capabilities designed into this evolving software now marketed as OneSpace Modeling, the more impressed I've become. Until recently I believed running Finite Element analytic algorithms on CAD-described assemblies required mainframe computational power that typically only governments, universities and substantial corporations can fund. Yet CoCreate's software writing wizards made FI operable on affordable desktop computers. This software is clearly very powerful. I also like its history-free archiving strategy. It only retains and documents within CAD files information needed for CAD uses. That minimizes excess baggage within resulting files, which are much smaller than traditional CAD system files. This strategy doesn't retain data that can be omitted without compromising CAD-function benefits. Historic development data that may be useful for non-CAD uses can and should be retained. But it should be retained in other files.
But surely a more logically progressing, more productive and comfortable introductory learning experience can be structured for new users unlikely to attend expensive introductory seminars or comparable supplementary instructional programs. I looked on-line for instructional resources beyond OneSource Modeling's 2500+ help file pages and its on-line tutorial mini movies. I found no introductory books and only one instructional site about 2005 version OneSource software.
http://www.xandorra.com/doc/13/osm/C/dmhelp/index.htm#en/html/dm_gs-tutorial1.html
I hope CoCreate staff reading these forums forward the following suggestions to decision makers within the corporate structure.
OneSource on-line tutorial mini movies are a terrific concept, somewhat analogous to watching an experienced CAD operator efficiently illustrate simple projects. New users should be encouraged to simultaneously open their OneSpace Modeling program in another Window while stepping through actions portrayed in tutorial mini movies. After watching several steps, they should switch to their OneSpace program and duplicate those actions. Learning by passively watching actions is MUCH LESS WELL RETAINED than learning that includes active action executions.
To see details clearly, viewers should be encouraged to watch tutorial movies at screen-filling sizes. 1024 x 768 is reportedly still the most common browser display space. Browser-displayed movies that overfill display space encourage viewers to resize them to only fill available window space. But browser-displayed movies underfilling display space are less likely to encourage viewers to resize them to fully fill available window space. My 1024 x 768 browser defaults current OneSpace movie displays to an unnecessarily small screen size.
Most OneSpace mini movies are 30 - 40 frames long. Clicking "Play" locks movie viewers into frame display pacing selected by the movie maker. Sometimes that's too fast. Sometimes it seems too slow. One compensating procedure is to click Play, watch a few frames at automatic speed, then click Pause. If you need to review frames to duplicate movie-displayed actions in your open OneSpace program, back the bottom-of-screen slider frame selection control a few frames and Play again.
A more useful procedure is to start by clicking Play, then immediately engage "Pause." Thereafter only use the frame selection slider so the viewer decides exactly when the next frame is selected. Determining your own sequencing speed is a huge advantage in learning new material. This allows moving forward and backward one frame at a time. It would be much more convenient if a viewer provided single-frame forward and single-frame backward buttons. If anyone knows of a viewer with single-frame-step controls, please explain where others can obtain a copy.
Each tutorial frame can be enhanced by adding verbose background explanation texts. Viewers could not read those extra writings while viewing or reviewing at automatic-Play-viewing speed. But when first learning how and why specific actions are needed, viewers should be encouraged to study each frame's written content by manually controlling sequencing speed one frame at time. This additional content could largely duplicate explanations which should occur during one-on-one teaching sessions. This additional material can both accelerate and improve their learning experience.
I think these changes would provide a faster, more enjoyable learning experience that causes less frustration.
John
But surely a more logically progressing, more productive and comfortable introductory learning experience can be structured for new users unlikely to attend expensive introductory seminars or comparable supplementary instructional programs. I looked on-line for instructional resources beyond OneSource Modeling's 2500+ help file pages and its on-line tutorial mini movies. I found no introductory books and only one instructional site about 2005 version OneSource software.
http://www.xandorra.com/doc/13/osm/C/dmhelp/index.htm#en/html/dm_gs-tutorial1.html
I hope CoCreate staff reading these forums forward the following suggestions to decision makers within the corporate structure.
OneSource on-line tutorial mini movies are a terrific concept, somewhat analogous to watching an experienced CAD operator efficiently illustrate simple projects. New users should be encouraged to simultaneously open their OneSpace Modeling program in another Window while stepping through actions portrayed in tutorial mini movies. After watching several steps, they should switch to their OneSpace program and duplicate those actions. Learning by passively watching actions is MUCH LESS WELL RETAINED than learning that includes active action executions.
To see details clearly, viewers should be encouraged to watch tutorial movies at screen-filling sizes. 1024 x 768 is reportedly still the most common browser display space. Browser-displayed movies that overfill display space encourage viewers to resize them to only fill available window space. But browser-displayed movies underfilling display space are less likely to encourage viewers to resize them to fully fill available window space. My 1024 x 768 browser defaults current OneSpace movie displays to an unnecessarily small screen size.
Most OneSpace mini movies are 30 - 40 frames long. Clicking "Play" locks movie viewers into frame display pacing selected by the movie maker. Sometimes that's too fast. Sometimes it seems too slow. One compensating procedure is to click Play, watch a few frames at automatic speed, then click Pause. If you need to review frames to duplicate movie-displayed actions in your open OneSpace program, back the bottom-of-screen slider frame selection control a few frames and Play again.
A more useful procedure is to start by clicking Play, then immediately engage "Pause." Thereafter only use the frame selection slider so the viewer decides exactly when the next frame is selected. Determining your own sequencing speed is a huge advantage in learning new material. This allows moving forward and backward one frame at a time. It would be much more convenient if a viewer provided single-frame forward and single-frame backward buttons. If anyone knows of a viewer with single-frame-step controls, please explain where others can obtain a copy.
Each tutorial frame can be enhanced by adding verbose background explanation texts. Viewers could not read those extra writings while viewing or reviewing at automatic-Play-viewing speed. But when first learning how and why specific actions are needed, viewers should be encouraged to study each frame's written content by manually controlling sequencing speed one frame at time. This additional content could largely duplicate explanations which should occur during one-on-one teaching sessions. This additional material can both accelerate and improve their learning experience.
I think these changes would provide a faster, more enjoyable learning experience that causes less frustration.
John