CambridgeMedlineTutor contains Hypercard 1.2.5 stacks used at University of Iowa, Hardin Library for Health Sciences, to teach library users to search the Cambridge CD-ROM version of the Medline database. Although these stacks can no longer be used directly in learning Medline searching, since Cambridge is no longer producing Medline, as of April, 1993, the stacks still have potential use, since they contain several scripting techniques that can be applied generally in instructional stack development.
Especially unusual about these stacks is that they use Hypercard on a Macintosh to teach use of an IBM computer. The Cambridge Medline was on an IBM computer, and these stacks simulate the pre-Windows IBM environment of the Cambridge Medline interface. Because of this, the stacks are controlled almost exclusively from the keyboard, instead of using the mouse. The scripting for this in not particularly complicated, but most Hypercard scripting documentation doesn’t have much to say about using keyboard commands, since mouse use is more/less assumed.
Other techniques that may be of general usage:
-A time-out feature that returns the system to the introductory screen after a set time of inactivity. This is useful for any public access stack.
-Technique (that I call, for lack of a better name, “undissolve”) to superimpose a relatively small field of text on the screen gradually in an aesthetically pleasing way. Achieves the same effect as in the tutorials for Microsoft Excel, especially the version 2.2 Excel Tour.
-Graphic design and simple animation techniques to simulate screens and screen transitions in a command-line DOS environment.
These stacks were used for 2 1/2 years in the Hardin Library, and proved to be very effective teaching tools. For more information, see articles:
-Eric Rumsey, “Hypercard tutorial to teach use of IBM Computers: Compact Cambridge Medline at University of Iowa,” Apple Library Users Group Newsletter, Jan, 1991, 9(1): p 112-115.
-Eric Rumsey, "HyperCard for Bibliographic Instruction: Teaching IBM computer use, plus much more," Computers in Libraries, June 1992, 12(6) :43-45.
To use stacks, put them all in one folder, and click “HardinStart.”
Consider these stacks postcardware - Send me a line of comments/feedback if you use them.
--Eric Rumsey, Hardin Library for Health Sciences, Univ of Iowa, Iowa City IA 52242
