Mockup Website
The mockup of the RemmoSpace website is written in Python using the Flask web development framework. A waiting list of students is maintained, as well as a database of tutors registered with 2 partner organizations, West Neighbourhood House and Progress Place. Each student is registered with one of those 2 organizations, or both of them. When a student gets to the top of one of the waiting lists (each organization has its own waiting list), James or a staff member in the clerical unit of Progress Place tries to match that student with an available tutor, depending on the schedules and areas of expertise/desired topics of study of both parties. Once the student is matched with a tutor, weekly sessions 1 to 2 hours in length are booked. Depending on the preferences of both parties, the sessions can be face to face on the premises of the partner organizations, or both parties use the free remote desktop sharing application with audio support called Seecreen. For remote sessions, either or both of the parties can work from home and at most one party (usually the student) can use a computer on the premises of the partner organizations. The software application which the student is learning must be installed on the computer being used by the student.
The forums (which are called "spaces") are only supported in the actual finished RemmoSpace website, not the mockup website. Also math tutoring will not be supported until Version 2.0 of the actual website is in operation, many months after Version 1.0 is launched. The back end of Version 2.0 will be implemented in Java, unlike the back ends of Version 1.0 and the mockup website (Version 0.1) which are implemented in Python. The mockup website is hosted on James's computer as well as a computer in the clerical unit of Progress Place. To launch that website, James runs its Python script using the Windows command prompt and then runs a web browser on the same computer. The web address is http://localhost:5000/. Mike has not yet approached Progress Place but was a member there between 2011 and 2014.
Monetization and classes (different populations of students) are also ignored in the mockup website. Monetization involves members of the general public (called donors) who are not registered with the partner organizations being made eligible to receive tutoring (using Seecreen). They are encouraged to make a suggested minimum donation of $10 per session. All tutors are volunteers and are required to spend half their time with donors, or less than half their time if sufficient donations can be raised to keep RemmoSpace operations in the black.
Powerpoint Presentation
Mike will make a Powerpoint presentation to Judi, James, and the other tutors at Bang The Drum once the mockup website is working on his home computer sometime in the spring. Prior to that presentation the mockup website which consists of one or more Python scripts and some support files will be installed on James's computer. A projector will display the screen contents of James's computer on a big white screen. After that presentation Mike will answer questions/comments from staff members and tutors and then later a decision can be made by WNH staff members whether or not development of Version 1.0 of the actual website is to proceed. That version will be hosted by a web hosting service rather than on the local hard drive of James's computer.