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| 4 | $tit No need of software installation and/or update by users.$titend |
4 | $tit No need of software installation and/or update by users.$titend |
| 5 | All installation and/or update of background software is done on the |
5 | All installation and/or update of background software is done on the |
| 6 | server side, which can be anywhere on the internet. On the client |
6 | server side, which can be anywhere on the internet. On the client |
| 7 | machine, only a common web browser is required (which needs not to be |
7 | machine, only a common web browser is required (which needs not to be |
| 8 | very up to date). |
8 | very up to date). |
| - | 9 | </li> |
|
| 9 | $tit No need to learn the usage and the syntax of a particular software package.$titend |
10 | $tit No need to learn the usage and the syntax of a particular software package.$titend |
| 10 | As wims uses the html standard for user interface, a user, in particular |
11 | As wims uses the html standard for user interface, a user, in particular |
| 11 | a student, has only to use his usual knowledge of html browsing (which |
12 | a student, has only to use his usual knowledge of html browsing (which |
| 12 | is now a common knowledge), in order to work on wims applications. <br/> |
13 | is now a common knowledge), in order to work on wims applications. <br/> |
| 13 | This is not the case for any of current mathematics softwares; all of |
14 | This is not the case for any of current mathematics softwares; all of |
| Line 16... | Line 17... | ||
| 16 | knowledge of using a particular software is not a universal knowledge, |
17 | knowledge of using a particular software is not a universal knowledge, |
| 17 | and such a knowledge usually has a short lifespan. |
18 | and such a knowledge usually has a short lifespan. |
| 18 | Moreover, teaching knowledge about a commercial software contradicts |
19 | Moreover, teaching knowledge about a commercial software contradicts |
| 19 | with the principle of commercial neutrality of a public education |
20 | with the principle of commercial neutrality of a public education |
| 20 | institution. |
21 | institution. |
| - | 22 | </li> |
|
| 21 | $tit It provides a means to collect the knowledge and experience |
23 | $tit It provides a means to collect the knowledge and experience |
| 22 | of the whole educational community.$titend |
24 | of the whole educational community.$titend |
| 23 | Wims is a modular system, where each application is a separated module |
25 | Wims is a modular system, where each application is a separated module |
| 24 | whose links with other modules are done in the usual html way. |
26 | whose links with other modules are done in the usual html way. |
| 25 | This allows modules |
27 | This allows modules |
| 26 | to be developped independently and remotely. It is our hope that as many |
28 | to be developped independently and remotely. It is our hope that as many |
| 27 | educators as possible will add their knowledge and experience to the |
29 | educators as possible will add their knowledge and experience to the |
| 28 | system by contributions in the form of new modules or improvements of |
30 | system by contributions in the form of new modules or improvements of |
| 29 | existing ones. |
31 | existing ones. |
| - | 32 | </li> |
|
| 30 | $tit It allows student - teacher interactions in several ways.$titend |
33 | $tit It allows student - teacher interactions in several ways.$titend |
| 31 | Organized under the structure of |
34 | Organized under the structure of |
| 32 | $(ref1)class$(ref2)class">classes</a>, |
35 | $(ref1)class$(ref2)class">classes</a>, |
| 33 | a wims system allows teacher |
36 | a wims system allows teacher |
| 34 | to assign works for his students, and get reliable informations about |
37 | to assign works for his students, and get reliable informations about |
| 35 | the progress (and/or difficulty) of the student in real time. This may |
38 | the progress (and/or difficulty) of the student in real time. This may |
| 36 | allow the teacher to give more personalised guide to the student. |
39 | allow the teacher to give more personalised guide to the student. |
| 37 | The big advantage of such a system based on internet is that there is |
40 | The big advantage of such a system based on internet is that there is |
| 38 | no site restriction: any work done from any site (local or remote) is |
41 | no site restriction: any work done from any site (local or remote) is |
| 39 | valid, and is taken into account. |
42 | valid, and is taken into account. |
| - | 43 | </li> |
|
| 40 | $tit It provides a dynamic interaction between different components, e.g. |
44 | $tit It provides a dynamic interaction between different components, e.g. |
| 41 | between exercises and computing tools.$titend |
45 | between exercises and computing tools.$titend |
| 42 | For example, practically no software dedicated to exercises can |
46 | For example, practically no software dedicated to exercises can |
| 43 | interface a computational tool as easily as wims does. |
47 | interface a computational tool as easily as wims does. |
| - | 48 | </li> |
|
| 44 | $tit It can be more powerful than any given software for certain works.$titend |
49 | $tit It can be more powerful than any given software for certain works.$titend |
| 45 | Because wims can use different (dedicated) software as backend engine, |
50 | Because wims can use different (dedicated) software as backend engine, |
| 46 | even several softwares for one application or one request. |
51 | even several softwares for one application or one request. |
| - | 52 | </li> |
|
| 47 | </ol> |
53 | </ol> |
| 48 | 54 | ||
| 49 | <hr/><h4>Disadvantage of wims versus locally installed softwares</h4> |
55 | <hr/><h4>Disadvantage of wims versus locally installed softwares</h4> |
| 50 | <ol> |
56 | <ol> |
| 51 | $tit Low speed of reaction.$titend |
57 | $tit Low speed of reaction.$titend |
| 52 | Because usually every wims response has to travel through internet. |
58 | Because usually every wims response has to travel through internet. |
| 53 | This will improve when internet speed improves. |
59 | This will improve when internet speed improves. |
| - | 60 | </li> |
|
| 54 | $tit Limited computational power and programming capability.$titend |
61 | $tit Limited computational power and programming capability.$titend |
| 55 | If a user has a heavy computational job and/or has to design a complicated |
62 | If a user has a heavy computational job and/or has to design a complicated |
| 56 | script to get his job done, he should work directly on the appropriate |
63 | script to get his job done, he should work directly on the appropriate |
| 57 | software. It is not at all the intention of wims to interface such |
64 | software. It is not at all the intention of wims to interface such |
| 58 | activities. |
65 | activities. |
| - | 66 | </li> |
|
| 59 | $tit Limited capability of the graphical interface.$titend |
67 | $tit Limited capability of the graphical interface.$titend |
| 60 | The html graphical user interface is not very suited for interactive |
68 | The html graphical user interface is not very suited for interactive |
| 61 | works. |
69 | works. |
| - | 70 | </li> |
|
| 62 | </ol> |
71 | </ol> |
| 63 | 72 | ||
| 64 | <hr/><h4>Advantage of wims versus hand calculators</h4> |
73 | <hr/><h4>Advantage of wims versus hand calculators</h4> |
| 65 | <ol> |
74 | <ol> |
| 66 | $tit Easier to use.$titend |
75 | $tit Easier to use.$titend |
| 67 | A html page used by wims for user interface is much more comprehensible |
76 | A html page used by wims for user interface is much more comprehensible |
| 68 | than any hand calculator. |
77 | than any hand calculator. |
| - | 78 | </li> |
|
| 69 | $tit (Much) more powerful. $titend |
79 | $tit (Much) more powerful. $titend |
| - | 80 | </li> |
|
| 70 | </ol> |
81 | </ol> |
| 71 | 82 | ||
| 72 | <hr/><h4>Disadvantage of wims versus hand calculators</h4> |
83 | <hr/><h4>Disadvantage of wims versus hand calculators</h4> |
| 73 | <ol> |
84 | <ol> |
| 74 | $tit Non-portability.$titend |
85 | $tit Non-portability.$titend |
| 75 | Wims is accessible only to computers connected to internet. |
86 | Wims is accessible only to computers connected to internet. |
| - | 87 | </li> |
|
| 76 | </ol> |
88 | </ol> |
| 77 | 89 | ||
| 78 | <hr/><h4>Advantage of wims versus interactive web applications based |
90 | <hr/><h4>Advantage of wims versus interactive web applications based |
| 79 | only on java or javascript</h4> |
91 | only on java or javascript</h4> |
| 80 | <ol> |
92 | <ol> |
| 81 | $tit More powerful and more versatile.$titend |
93 | $tit More powerful and more versatile.$titend |
| 82 | As wims can embed java or javascript programs in its applications, a |
94 | As wims can embed java or javascript programs in its applications, a |
| 83 | wisely designed wims application just extends the capability of java or |
95 | wisely designed wims application just extends the capability of java or |
| 84 | javascript. <br/> |
96 | javascript. <br/> |
| 85 | And wims can really do more: |
97 | And wims can really do more: |
| 86 | even if it is theoretically possible to develop java applications which |
98 | even if it is theoretically possible to develop java applications which |
| 87 | has the same power as a software used as a backend engine for wims, it |
99 | has the same power as a software used as a backend engine for wims, it |
| 88 | would take too much effort to develop (is it reasonable to re-write TeX |
100 | would take too much effort to develop (is it reasonable to re-write TeX |
| 89 | in java?), and would be so big that it would take forever for an http |
101 | in java?), and would be so big that it would take forever for an http |
| 90 | query to load. |
102 | query to load. |
| - | 103 | </li> |
|
| 91 | $tit Easier to develop.$titend |
104 | $tit Easier to develop.$titend |
| 92 | Because wims language is first based on html (easy to learn), with an |
105 | Because wims language is first based on html (easy to learn), with an |
| 93 | extension specifically designed for this purpose. |
106 | extension specifically designed for this purpose. |
| 94 | $tit Allows student-supervisor interaction.$titend |
107 | $tit Allows student-supervisor interaction.$titend |
| 95 | The design of server-based interactivity for users allows the back-end |
108 | The design of server-based interactivity for users allows the back-end |
| 96 | communication with supervisors, and much more (performance analysis, |
109 | communication with supervisors, and much more (performance analysis, |
| 97 | automatic intervention from supervisors, etc). |
110 | automatic intervention from supervisors, etc). |
| - | 111 | </li> |
|
| 98 | </ol> |
112 | </ol> |
| 99 | 113 | ||
| 100 | <hr/><h4>Disadvantage of wims versus interactive web applications based |
114 | <hr/><h4>Disadvantage of wims versus interactive web applications based |
| 101 | on java or javascript</h4> |
115 | on java or javascript</h4> |
| 102 | <ol> |
116 | <ol> |
| 103 | $tit Lower speed of reaction.$titend |
117 | $tit Lower speed of reaction.$titend |
| 104 | Because usually every wims response has to travel through internet. |
118 | Because usually every wims response has to travel through internet. |
| 105 | This will improve when internet speed improves. One can also use |
119 | This will improve when internet speed improves. One can also use |
| 106 | embedded javascript or java in a wims application, in places where |
120 | embedded javascript or java in a wims application, in places where |
| 107 | response speed is important. |
121 | response speed is important. |
| - | 122 | </li> |
|
| 108 | </ol> |
123 | </ol> |
| 109 | - | ||
| 110 | - | ||
| 111 | - | ||