Ruy J. Guerra B. de Queiroz

Project TOOLS FOR TEACHING
        (see also logic software)

Funding: ESPRIT, ALFA Programme, Subprogramme A, "Cooperation for Institutional Management", A1: "Structural Improvement of Higher Education"

1. Identification
1.1. Project Number: 6.0285.2 - ALFA Programme
1.2. Network: ARACNE
1.3. Title of the Project: TOOLS FOR TEACHING
1.4. Coordinating Institution: Universidad de Salamanca (Prof. María Manzano Arjona)
1.5. Member Institutions:
Universidad Federal de Pernambuco (Ruy J. Guerra B. de Queiroz)
Universidad de la República de Uruguay (Ana Patricia Rona Grucci)
Universidad de Buenos Aires (Gladys Palau)
Universidad de Lima (Teresa Mouchard)
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Santiago Negrete Yankelevich)
Imperial College London (Ian Martin Hodkinson)
Università di Udine (Alberto Policriti)
University of Amsterdam (Dick de Jongh)
Universidad de Salamanca (María Manzano Arjona)

1.6. Summary of the Project

TOOLS FOR TEACHING is a project to develop a variety of tools useful in the education of the interdisciplnary students our society demands. Logic is the branch par excellence which binds together a number of fields (traditionally single-discipline programs) as it acts as a core part of the science of information processing. Thus, to focus on tools for teaching logic can have an exemplary function, since connections shall be drawn between various disciplines where symbolic aspects of information processing play a role.

The first aim of this project is to SHARE our EXPERIENCE of teaching among the members of ARACNE. Furthermore, we propose: To prepare the material to produce a series of METABOOKS (with a HYPERTEXT version), to desing an ON-LINE DICTIONARY of logic terms, to translate and further develop the existing LOGIC SOFTWARE, to organize a WORKSHOP in Brazil, to arrange TRANSLATIONS and to help authors to write LECTURE NOTES. We will also devote some effort to the DISSEMINATION of our project both inside the academic community and outside (secondary school) thus influencing the image of logic and to the PROMOTION OF PARTICIPATION OF WOMAN in higher education.

Duration: Two years

2. Main Area

Innovation and systematization of teaching.

3. Objectives

TOOLS FOR TEACHING is a project to develop a variety of tools useful in the education of the interdisciplinary students our society demands. Fortunately, the flow of information during the last two decades is balancing our academic world. Meeting the challenge of new technologies in our project means:

(1) To prepare the material to produce a series of METABOOKS (a guide to prepare a junior undergraduate course) with HYPERTEXT version on the Web containing exercises and ready- to- take exams. Content. (a) A very detailed program for the course. (b) A general explanation of what the aims are in each chapter. (c) Precise definitions for the concepts involved. (d) Glossary of terms with links to the ON-LINE DICTIONARY. (e) Good references to the existing literature for each item. (f) Plenty of solved exercises. (g) Ready- to- take exams. (h) Links with LOGIC SOFTWARE. Items (f) and (g) can just appear on the Web as the hypertext version of the book.

(2) To design an ON-LINE DICTIONARY of logic terms with translations for all the languages included in the project (English, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Dutch and Portuguese). The dictionary of logic terms is a dynamic dictionary, changing to reflect changes in the covered topics. It contains: (a) A list of terms from basic logic to intermediate topics, including not only classical logic, but other kinds of logics as well. (b) Translations of these terms into the different languages of the project. Support. The dictionary would be implemented on the Web so that anybody can consult it or even print it. It contains the words, not the definitions of the concepts.

(3) To translate and further develop the existing LOGIC SOFTWARE for teaching formal reasoning. The current status of logic software makes additional activity in adding to existing software preferable to new development. Actions to be taken. The best choice in extending a software product seems to be: (a) Translate the software and manuals. (b) Add several case studies adapted for the general area of application, related to the national or cultural environment or related to the promotion of participation of women in higher education. (c) The logic software should be conected to the metabook.

(4) To organize a WORKSHOP in Brazil where we can test our TOOLS FOR TEACHING LOGIC.

(5) TOOLS FOR TEACHING will also: (a) Undertake a survey of the basic and/or interdisciplnary books we think should be TRANSLATED and (b) try to make arrangements for their publication. In particular, some of our Dutch members plan to develop a local project on the DISSEMINATION OF APPLIED LOGIC and offers everything thus produced for translation.

(6) There is a considerable gap in the literature regarding intermediate LECTURE NOTES (for senior undergraduates or beginning graduates). TOOLS FOR TEACHING will stimulate its members to write sensible and accessible to the reader Lecture notes on special topics (of intermediate difficulty, addressed to a very specific audience). We can also help them by reading, making comments, etc. Also, we can help in finding a publisher. LECTURE NOTES comes from our experience of teaching, so the tentative list of titles is long.

(7) DISSEMINATION.
Promotions of our project will take the form of: (a) announcements in Academic Journals, and (b) organising presentations, talks, disscussions, etc at events, meetings and summer schools in subjects related to Logic and Education. (c) to maintain a WWW page on TOOLS FOR TEACHING LOGIC.

(8) Finally, we think that the PROMOTION OF PARTICIPATION OF WOMAN in higher education is not an empty aim and a substantial number of women will be included in the project.

4. Activities

A GENERAL MEETING IN SALAMANCA (Autum 1997).
The first meeting will take place in Salamanca with the following agenda:
(0) COMMUNICATION. We shall set up an efficient way of communicating among ourselves. Sending and receiving files, converting them when needed, visiting relevant Web sites and home pages should not be an obstacle for anybody in ARACNE.
(1) METABOOK. We have to write the TABLE OF CONTENTS of the first volume on the series of metabooks. Also, the kinds of exams and exercises matching them should be prepared (to be put on the Web). Almost all of us will contribute with our experience in teaching, but we have to assign tasks and make some arragements. The Italian group will explain how (format and so on) they want to receive the material to prepare the hypertext version.
(2) ON-LINE DICTIONARY OF LOGIC TERMS. The British group will prepare the list, while the Spanish will prepare the implemented version. The Spanish will explain how we can use this tool so that we can add translations to the list prepared by the British.
(3) LOGIC SOFTWARE. During the execution of ALFA we have to examine a number of packages and decide which should be translated and implemented. The Group from Holland will colaborate with the British and some of the Spanish members.
(4) TRANSLATIONS. We have to elaborate a list of important books to be traslated during the project must find out whether or not the traslation already exist and who can do it otherwise.
(5) LECTURE NOTES. The group from Argentina as well as some other members of ARACNE propose different titles tentatively. We should decide how to support such potential authors.
(6) PROMOTION of our project will take several forms. We have to decide which journals are best and which meetings to attend. We will create a WWW page on TOOLS FOR TEACHING.

PROBLEM-SOLVING MEETING IN UDINE (Late spring 1998).
After several months of working in the project we can evaluate its progression and correct the deficiencies by assigning tasks where more work is needed to additional people in the project. By the time of the second meeting the project must be in a situation where we had already the opportunity of using some part of the implemented version of the ON-LINE DICTIONARY and some of the HYPERTEXT part of the METABOOK.
(1) We have to elaborate items (b) through (e) of the METABOOK (i.e. motivations, definitions, glosary and references)
(2) The ON-LINE DICTIONARY should be partially developed and we can raise questions to the responsible group.
(3) After examining the available LOGIC SOFTWARE we shall arrange to beging working on TRANSLATION of the most appropiate.
(4) We can also set up TRANSLATIONS of some of the tools developed by the project LOGIC EDUCATION AND DISSEMINATION.

A WORKSHOP IN BRAZIL (Southern summer, 1999).
In February 1999 we will organize a Workshop in Brazil to test some of our TOOLS FOR TEACHING. In particular, we can practice with the HYPERTEXT version of the METABOOK, use the ON-LINE dictionary and learn how Pandora and LogicsWorkbench can be used. We can add to the program the electronic course on dynamic logic.

A FINAL MEETING IN SPAIN (Autumn 1999).
We shall try to have everything ready for the final meeting. In particular: (1) a pre-print of a substantial part of the METABOOK. (2) The ON-LINE DICTIONARY working on the Web. (3) A preliminary version of a translated SOFTWARE. (4) Some arrangements working already for translations of material developped by the Dutch group. (5) The experience obtained during the workshop. Depending on our experience on collaboration, we can decide to apply for another international project involving students (ALFA, B; for instance).

5. Tasks

SPAIN. María Manzano is the co-ordinator of the Spanish group. She is also the coordinator of the project. e-mail: mara@gugu.usal.es

The Spanish team will work on: (1). Co-ordination in general. We have created already a distribution list: aracne@xarxa.udl.es.
(2). Co-ordinate the reception of material for the METABOOK. We will contribute as well with their own experience by collecting exams and exercises.
(3). The implementation of the ON-LINE DICTIONARY is also Spanish responsability (the group of Lerida) as well as the translation into Catalan of the terms.
The dictionary of logic terms will be a software tool developed in Java using a client-server architecture. On the one hand, it will allow the remote entry and modification of logic terms only by authorised users. On the other hand, there will be no restrictions for consulting it.
Initially, the server module will be implemented as a simple access file. As the size of the dictionary increases, it can be migrated to a relational database structure. Moreover, a user-friendly graphical interface will be provided.
(4). Translations. Some Spanish members of ARACNE will cooperate with the Dutch and British members in the TRANSLATION of LOGIC SOFTWARE.
(5). MEETING. They will organize two meetings of ARACNE in Spain.

The Spanish group also includes: Antonia Huertas (Matemáticas, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona), Felip Manya, Teresa Alsinet and Cesar Fernandez (Informatica, Universidad de Lérida), Francisco Salto (Lógica, Universidad de Salamanca), Lucila Gonzalez (Lógica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Angel Nepomuceno and Francisco Salguero (Lógica y Lingüística, Universidad de Sevilla), Huberto Marraud and Enrique Alonso (Lógica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Regino Criado (Telecomunicaciones, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid), Juan Barba and Teresa Solias (Lógica y Lingüística, Universidad de Valladolid)

6. Task schedules

A GENERAL MEETING IN SALAMANCA (Winter 1998).

PROBLEM-SOLVING MEETING IN UDINE (Late spring or early summer 1998).

A WORKSHOP IN BRAZIL (Southern summer, 1999).

A FINAL MEETING IN SPAIN (Autumn 1999).

Last modified: May 19, 2000, 09:00:05 GMT-0300.