OU LearningWorks: a customized programming environment for Smalltalk modules

We have exploited and adapted Goldberg´s LearningWorks framework to produce an environment with new programming tools, visualization tools, and system simulations. The environment is designed to be used via plug-in modules, called LearningBooks, sets of classes and persistent objects, for which we have developed a pedagogic standard that includes, for example, an HTML browser and various of the aforementioned tools and systems. The context for this development has been a distance learning degree-level course in object technology which is enrolling over 5000 mature students per year, mostly in the UK, Western Europe and Singapore. The course, M206, Computing: An Object-oriented Approach from the Open University (OU), will soon be introduced into the USA. While adhering to the original conception of LearningWorks that it promote a software engineering approach of systems building, we have successfully added support for the needs of the distance learning neophyte. By showing various microworlds and programming tools these notes outline the environment we have implemented and deployed.