Your first ExploreNet experience will be provided by experimenting with a "stand alone" version of the software. After you have learned how to move your cartoon character through the world, pick up things, operate the props, etc., you will have a chance to try out ExploreNet "long distance" and meet other students in other schools who have already built some worlds.

These students will be your consultants and helpers from time to time, when you need advice on some feature of world-building. They will also take you on a tour of their version of Dino World, so that you can get ideas for building your own worlds later. Normally, you will send electronic mail to make an appointment to meet with the other students via a "chat system", a face-to-face video/audio meeting, or within ExploreNet itself. Video doesn't work very well unless your school has a direct Internet link, so probably we will mostly use e-mail and chat tools (typing messages.)

2. The Lessons

IDEAS: This section will tell you what new ideas appear in this lesson. For instance, in this Lesson 0, you will learn how to control your character's actions in ExploreNet, and what an ExploreNet world is made of.

OUTCOMES: This section tells you specifically what you should have accomplished. In Lesson 0, you should learn how to

€ make your character walk
€ go from scene to scene
€ pick up and put down objects, and
€ control objects that have behaviors

WHAT YOU NEED: You need a three ring notebook in which to put these handouts. (This can be shared with another course if necessary.) You also need a diskette, which we will provide, and a safe place to keep it. Work the details out with your teacher. And of course you will need a pencil. What's school without a pencil?

Here we go!

2. Getting Started with ExploreNet

Double click on the ExploreNet icon to start ExploreNet.

Click on the "No Network" button.

Click on the red house.

Two buttons are at the top of the screen. One says * Zora * and the other says Jake. The * stars * around Zora's name mean that she is the active character right now. We'll try out Jake in a minute.

Point the mouse at the house's porch and click the button.

You should see Zora walk up on the porch where you clicked.

Point the mouse just off the porch and click the button.

You should see Zora turn around and walk off the porch.

Type "Oh, I get it." Then press the ENTER key.

You should see Zora "talking" like a comic strip. Her words appear over her head in a grey box, saying "Zora: Oh, I get it." The reason it starts off with Zora is that when many characters are talking, it's nice to know who said what.

Now click right on Zora to see what she can do. A menu appears with two actions: "Turn Around" and "Kneel Down".

Click on "Turn Around". Zora will face the other direction.

Click on Zora again. Click on "Kneel Down". Zora will kneel down.

Click on Zora again. The menu has now changed, and says "Stand Up." Select that action, and she will stand up.

Click on the House button, using the left mouse button. You will see an explanation of the scene.

Move the mouse around the left side of the scene until you find a footprint. Then click. This is an "Exit", which is a path to another scene.

Move the mouse pointer to the red and white lantern. You will see that the pointer changes to a little box with a P on it. This means "Prop". In a play or a movie, the things the actors use are called Properties, or props.

Move the pointer just to the right of the lantern, so it stops being a prop pointer and goes back to being an arrow pointer. Then click to make Zora walk.

Click on the lantern again and select "Pick Up" from its menu. The lantern disappears and Zora says "I got the lantern."

Now click on Zora. Her menu now includes "Drop Lantern". Try it.

An automatic pick-up. Move close to the black kettle and click on it. It picks up automatically! Some objects that have only one behavior are automatic pick-ups.

An active prop. Click on the tree. It grows big enough to hide behind. But how can you get behind it? Move close, then use the arrow keys to "slide" Zora behind the tree. Only her feet are sticking out!

The other Character. Now click on the Jake button at the top of the screen.

The scene changes and a brown dog appears. This is Jake. But where is he? Move around until you find an exit and go through it. Aha! His scene was to the left of the pathway scene. Can he go back there? Yes- the exit is at the left end of the green pathway.

One final trick: Click on the RESTART button, and select "Replay Current History." You will see everything you have done.

Click the Quit button. Select "Quit without Saving History." You're done with today's lesson.