SDR: NETWORKING

The educational environment SDR: NETWORKING has been created to promote the active participation of the student in the process of learning. The system is part of a pedagogical method that aims at involving the student in the creation of contents and let him develop his creativity in a context of collaborative work. The system has begun to be developed by the group of ARC (http://www.salle.url.edu/arc) in 1999, and started to be used in the course SDR 99/00.

Currently, the system is formed by three interrelated environments:

LEVEL 1. Through this interface, the most representative of the course is summarized; both referred to contents and referred to the student work. It is accessible to every Internet user.

LEVEL 2. Contains the needed educational material for the course. Restricted to students.

LEVEL 3. Collaborative work environments SDR:NETWORKING, one for each of the six topics of the course (TEXT, FIGURE, IMAGE, OBJECT, SPACE AND LIGHT). Restricted to students.

ENVIRONMENT LEVEL 1

The theoretical content of the course is summarized in each one of the six THEMES. The vertical bar can be positioned on each theme. When blocking the position of the bar, a summary of EXERCISES of the course becomes accessible. Exercises are renewed as the course progresses. The icon of NETWORKING at the bottom of the bar, opens a window that explains the collaborative environment of SDR:NETWORKING for a selected theme. In the left area, there are NEWS: information about exhibitions, presentations..... of other institutions (museums, galleries, schools…); EVENTS: information about activities related to the course SDR (or to the group ARC); and LINKS: links with other institutions that have activities related to the course.

ENVIRONMENT LEVEL 2

This environment, restricted to students, includes: theoretical contents, syllabi, calendar, marks and student- student and student- professor information. This environment eases the participation of the student in the development of the theoretical content of the course, the access to the work from other students and the exchange of ideas among them.

ENVIRONMENT LEVEL 3

Interfaces for collaborative work, SDR:NETWORKING. There is an environment, specially adapted to the theoretical and practical requirements of each one of the six themes. For example,SDR:NETWORKING [TEXTO], allows a text analysis in a participative way, through a semantic network. SDR:NETWORKING [OBJECT], makes possible the development, in a collective way, of tridimensional objects in successive stages. With SDR:NETWORKING [SPACE], joint relationships among spatial units are established, giving place to multi- dimensional narratives.

In the planning, development and maintenance of the SDR: NETWORKING environment, the following students of the Department of Multimedia and Computer Engineering La Salle, participated:

· Lluís Ruscalleda, webmaster SDR: NETWORKING, web environment developer
· Joan Massey, webmaster, web environment developer
· Roser Gomà, web environment development and maintenance
· Jordi Vidal, concept maps environment
· Jorge Jiménez, web environment developer
· Francesc Duran, webmaster SDR: NETWORKING, web environment developer

In the graphic design, the following person collaborated:

· Eduardo Hernández, architect

Project Leader:

· Leandro Madrazo