\documentclass{article} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0\oddsidemargin} \setlength{\evensidemargin}{0\evensidemargin} \setlength{\textwidth}{1.35\textwidth} \setlength{\textheight}{1.2\textheight} \setlength{\topmargin}{0\topmargin} \setlength{\headsep}{.1\headsep} \begin{document} % plus the \end{document} command at the end. \begin{titlepage} \begin{center} \bigskip \bigskip {\Huge Instructional Improvement Grant Proposal} \bigskip \end{center} \begin{center} { \textbf{ \large Abstract Statement of Intent:}}\end{center} To provide means to adapt and integrate new media in scientific communication among and between undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty, especially for classes and research utilizing scientific typesetting and notation. More specifically, to allow members of the UCSC community to view and create sophisticated, notationally rich documents using the World Wide Web; to enable this using standard tools and techniques already in place; and to do this with the gentlest possible ``learning-curve''. Most specifically: it is proposed to install software and support to facilitate the publication of \LaTeX\ documents as standard web pages, and to allow the creation of such documents via a simple web-based interface. \begin{quotation} {\em This document was itself written in \LaTeX, and published on the Web as an example, using some of the tools I propose to make available. It may be found at:} \begin{center}{\ttfamily http://www.asis.com/\symbol{'176}scotfree/latexlab/latex2html/lab/minigrant}\end{center} {\em A more representative example (an undergraduate thesis in Mathematics):} \begin{center}{\ttfamily http://www.asis.com/\symbol{'176}scotfree/latexlab/latex2html/lab/kalm\\ }\end{center} \end{quotation} \bigskip \tableofcontents \bigskip \begin{center} {\sffamily {\Large Scot Free Kennedy}\\{\em scotfree@cats.ucsc.edu}} \end{center} \end{titlepage} \section{Introduction} The World Wide Web (WWW) is an increasingly powerful and widely utilized medium, readily available to every member of the UCSC community. It is clear that making any resource available via this medium is a potent and desirable goal. HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the core technology for the Web, the ``greatest common denominator''. While it lacks certain specialized features - the ability to represent scientific notation, for example -it is a universal standard. A document in ``flat'' HTML is guaranteed to be fully viewable on almost any computer connected to the Internet - true for no other technology yet extant. Certainly not true for \LaTeX. \LaTeX\ is a specialized language for the production of documents, especially technical and scientific, which often require mathematical symbols and unusual layout. While exceedingly well suited (and widely applied) to this task, \LaTeX\ is a specialized tool, and few publicly used computers are capable of displaying a \LaTeX\ document - fewer still are the members of the public able to make this happen. Thus one weak point of HTML (the inability to produce mathematical notation) is the strong point of \LaTeX, and similarly, \LaTeX's flaw (lack of universal interpretability) is precisely HTML's great strength. Clearly, it would be a powerful tool that would allow these languages to be used in conjunction. Not only could we come close to the ``best of both worlds'', but new possibilities emerge: for instance, scientific documents whose text, references, footnotes, and glossaries are ``hyperlinked''. Or which include interactive content, such as numerical simulations or graphical visualizations. The essence of my proposed project is this: to install software to translate from \LaTeX\ to HTML, and possibly to provide a ``front-end'' (or simple graphical interface) to make this translation process more ``user-friendly'' and widely-usable. Possible uses of this technology include: \begin{enumerate} \item Distribution of course materials in compact, universally viewable electronic format. \item Enhancement of class ``electronic discussion groups'' and email with scientific notation. \item Easy electronic publication of technical and research documents on the Web. \item Assistance in learning \LaTeX\ and HTML. \end{enumerate} \section{Specific Implementation} I propose to install and use a program called latex2html. It is a complex PERL program, and relies on several other programs and packages to work properly. While many of these are already in place (being standard on any UNIX system), some will need to be installed. It should be noted that nothing at this stage is new: I intend to use entirely standard, ``off-the-shelf'' components, freely available on the WWW. The next stage involves writing some original programs. The main such would be a point-and-click interface for creating \LaTeX\ and HTML documents. Implemented as a Web page, this would lie somewhere between the ``Equation Editor'' found on many word-processors and the ``visual web page editors'' often used to build HTML pages. This would allow professors and TA's unfamiliar with \LaTeX\ and/or HTML (or simply looking for a easy way to do simple tasks) to create documents requiring more than simple text. This could be added to the interface for online discussion boards, allowing users to easily include needed scientific notation. No one tool is the best for every job, of course. It is certainly not true that this project will serve all the needs of every user to the fullest. A Web-published document will never look the same as a well designed and printed page. The point is simply to extend the abilities of both HTML and \LaTeX\ so they overlap, and a range of new options is added to both. I think that with any project like this, support, documentation and tutorials are as or more important than making the tools themselves available. The best tools in the world are useless if they are not made accessible and understandable to those who might use them. So I include as an important aspect of the project time to make documentation available, complete with examples, tutorials, and advanced options. I would also like to develop the materials for a brief seminar on the subject, which could then be taught along with existing CATS classes, for students and faculty alike. Finally, a few words on my role. I have successfully installed this software elsewhere, so it is possible and I can do it. As to the software I propose to write, I have extensive experience writing similar programs, and am certain the proposed project is entirely capable of completion. I have taught several classes in HTML, and feel I can explain the use and purpose of these tools in a comprehensive and comprehendable manner. \section{Integration with Existing Resources} This project would be complementary to and easily integrated with most current resources. The purpose is to make fuller use of existing technologies and options, {\em not} to compete with or replace them. For instance, Web Browsers are installed on essentially every computer on campus, so the only tools needed to utilize the fruits of my project are already in place. Similarly, many teachers and students already use computers extensively in their normal activities, often using some of the very technologies utilized for this project. \LaTeX, for instance, is already widely used in (at least) the Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science Departments. Further, CATS {\em already} provides everything needed for a professor or student to have a class or personal web site - this project would merely make that process far easier, and more powerful. While it is beyond the scope of this project to show people how to create websites from scratch, CATS has a great deal of information for that purpose. The proposed tools would then facilitate the creation of something to {\em put} on a website, without first learning all the vagaries of HTML. Brief mention should also be made of other approaches to this task (that of making scientific notation easily read and written on the Web). Several other programs attempt the same goal, with different approaches, and it should be explained why this particular approach has been chosen. Most other techniques require specialized software to be in place for the documents to be viewed, or Java ``applets'' to be downloaded. This has obvious problems in accessibility - many people simply do not know how to do this, or do not want to be bothered with doing it. The proposed approach has the advantage that the final product is in completely standard, ``flat'' HTML. Another approach which also outputs standard HTML is taken by HyperLatex, latex2html's closest competition. While HyperLatex does produce standard Web page output, it does {\em not} take standard \LaTeX\ as input. That is, it requires a specialized set of commands {\em similar} to those of \LaTeX, but not identical. This defeats much of the purpose: separate versions of everything must be prepared, rather than processing a standard version; new commands must be learned; rather than being translated, documents must be entirely rewritten. \section{Undergraduate Applications} At a minimum (simply installing the translation software) this project would make it very easy for teachers of science courses to make course materials (solutions, reviews, syllabi, homework problems, etc.) easily available on the Web. While the current Electronic Reserves system already does a laudable job at this, there would be distinct advantages to the proposed extension. The current E-Reserves are available in ``Adobe Acrobat PDF'' format. The software required to view this format is free, and relatively easy to install, but the fact remains that few people will actually have it installed on whatever computer they happen to be sitting at. An HTML document, by contrast, is viewable on essentially every computer connected to the internet - all that's needed is any Web Browser. In addition, this approach yields considerably more compact files. Thus, while this minimal project provides tools directly useful mostly to faculty and graduate students, it provides direct benefit to undergraduates. Course materials may be made available in a format which is, in many cases, better and more widely usable. In addition, since many faculty already prepare their materials in \LaTeX, several steps are removed from the process of making them web-accessible. One would hope that this would encourage the electronic distribution of course information - a great convenience for students. For instance, these tools would be of great use in courses such as Pre-Calculus and Calculus; upper division mathematics; chemistry and physics, at all levels; and the more mathematically oriented computer science classes. If the full project is approved, students too will be able to use this technology. A simple, ``point-and-click'' interface will allow students to generate the scientific symbols they need to ask and answer questions online. While students can already ask questions of a TA or professor via email or existing online discussion boards, the discourse is limited by the fact that scientific communication requires (or at least is facilitated by) the use of specialized symbols and formatting. E-mail and HTML provide only rudimentary support for these needs. This project would provide full, simple support for this type of electronic discussion. Frank B\"{a}uerle has asked to make use of these tools for his College Algebra and Pre-Calculus classes next fall, and Richard Mitchell has indicated that he too is interested for his courses. These are huge undergraduate classes, and the desire to use these tools there may be seen as indicative of general applicability. In addition to the obvious benefits for students in general, this would be a tremendous aide to disabled students. Requests have already been made for software in that vein, and this project would fill that role. And simultaneously, this project will provide a painless, gradual way for people to learn both \LaTeX\ and HTML. By using the interface to create documents, and then examining the code that is generated, these two very useful skills can be learned gradually, by example. \section{Graduate and Faculty Applications} Most of the advantages mentioned above in the undergraduate section apply here as well. There are other advantages, however. For instance, articles and papers available as HTML documents are far more widely accessible than those available only as \LaTeX\ files. Not everyone who might be interested in a particular document will have the ability to process it in \LaTeX\ format, for whatever reason. Therefore, implementing this project will allow \LaTeX\ documents to reach a far wider possible audience. Yet, since the proposed approach works with standard \LaTeX, the file may be available in that format with no additional work by the author. This point bears repeating: those who already work in \LaTeX\ may continue to do so, with {\em no} modification. No new commands must be learned, nor must existing \LaTeX\ documents be modified before translation. Essentially, one simply has an alternative while printing out a finished document: publish it on the Web. \section{Long Term Effects and Funding} Since the components of this project are almost entirely standard, it has a tremendous advantage in terms of maintenance and ongoing usage. While the world of the World Wide Web changes almost daily, by utilizing such basic technologies, our project is guaranteed stability and reliability. Once the software and reference materials are installed, there is really no ongoing cost. Perhaps classes could be offered periodically to introduce people to the technology - but this would be a nicety, not a necessity. \pagebreak \section{Budget} Since the tools needed for this project are all freely available at no cost, the only budget required is for the time needed to install and create the various components. I put a value on my time of \$10/hour, considerably less than I would expect for consulting or teaching in this area. In acknowledgement of the fact that not everything I consider worthwhile will be so deemed by those making this decision, I have broken my project up into smaller units, so that a range of possible funding is easily possible. \begin{itemize} \item Installation of LATEX2HTML 30 hrs \begin{itemize} \item Preparation 5-10 hrs \item Installation 15-25 hrs \item Documentation 5-10 hrs \end{itemize} \item Seminar (basic) 6 hrs \item Seminar (advanced) 6 hrs \item "Front-End" creation 35 hrs \begin{itemize} \item Discussion, Planning and Preparation 5-10 hrs \item Programming 20 hrs \item Testing and Documenting 10 hrs \end{itemize} \item Extension of discussion boards 15 hrs \item Coordination with E-Reserves, CATS, etc 5 hrs \end{itemize} These times include documentation, and discussion with relevant people. We then have three possible projects: \begin{enumerate} \item \textbf{\em Minimal Install} This is simply an installation of LATEX2HTML itself, with a bit of auxiliary documentation and possibly a single seminar to get people started. This will be of use mostly to people already versed in the mysteries of \LaTeX. \textbf{ 36 hrs - \$360} \item \textbf{\em Moderate Project} This adds creation of the "Front-End" to allow anyone with a Web Browser to create these documents. The project would also include extensive documentation, and possibly a second seminar, on usage of the Front-End and additional support for users. \textbf {77 hrs - \$770} \item \textbf{\em Full Project} Here we create \LaTeX-enabled discussion boards; integrate with the Electronic Reserves System, and provide a maximal level of support and reference for users. \textbf {97 hrs - \$970} \end{enumerate} \end{document}