Input from some tasks is by way of links to other websites, or links to other resources within the environment. Developing the component, although time-consuming, was not particularly complicated since creating stages and tasks in Merlin does not require any specialist knowledge of programming languages. Appendix 4 shows how the tutor prepares a task by adding title, aim and task text to a ready-made template. Each student has two workbooks. The Group Workbook is common to all students, while the Personal Workbook is their own private space to which they submit work required in stage tasks.
Most stages require students to submit two workpieces.
The tutor also receives all workpieces in his or her own workbook, and can search for workpieces by a particular student, as illustrated in Appendix 5. This is the part of the environment through which much of the tutor feedback is given. The tutor attaches comments and suggests changes to the student's workpiece. The student can in turn respond to this feedback, and the process continues until some negotiated final position on the workpiece is reached. Appendix 7 shows the exchanges between Alfredo and the tutor for this particular workpiece.