Using SiMPLE In A Classroom Environment

Suppose that you are using SiMPLE in a classroom (or some other multi-user environment). You have only a limited number of computers available for the students to use. You would like all the students in the class to be able to create their own programs. But you don't want anybody's work to "conflict" with anyone else's.

The best solution to this problem is to give each student a separate flash drive with his/her own copy of SiMPLE on it. (Tell me more.)

Otherwise, here is an alternate solution: Instead of having everybody write their programs in one common Project (e.g., Project: PLAYPEN), simply create a separate Project for each student.

Let's say that you want to create a separate Project for a class member whose name is Stuart Dent. Mister Dent is working his way through the Micro-SiMPLE Tutorial and therefore Stu needs to be able to access all the items that are in the PLAYPEN Project. So, here's what you would do:

1. After you've started up SiMPLE, type: 
     GO PLAYPEN
    on the command line (if you're not already in the PLAYPEN Project).

2. Then type: 
     CLONE * STUDENT
    on the command line.

    (Repeat steps 1 and 2 similarly for each member of the class.)

Mister Stu Dent now has his own separate project named STUDENT (which is an exact copy of the PLAYPEN Project). When Stu comes into the classroom and sits down at the computer, all he has to do is start up SiMPLE, and then type: 
     GO STUDENT
on the command line. (Of course he'll no longer see the words "Project: PLAYPEN" at the top of the screen because he'll now be in "Project: STUDENT". But everything else will be the same.)

At the end of the school year when Stu Dent has moved on, you can delete his Project by simply typing the two commands: 
     GO STUDENT
     ZAP *
on the command line. And now you're all set to start preparing for next year's crop of Stu Dents!


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