Create a framework for self-guided learning in Fiji

[hinerm]

I would like to create an "Image Analysis Playground" that guides users to learn about image analysis concepts and explore common tools in Fiji.

I think in practice this would be conceptually similar to the neubias bioimage training resources , except specifically targeting Fiji users, instead of instructors.

The goal would be to ship a live "image analysis workshop" inside of Fiji, which could be use for:

• Self-directed learning
• Interactive workshops

This would also provide a framework for developers to contribute their own interactive tutorials for their plugins.

This issue captures a high-level overview of a first direction to prototype.

GUI Front-End

• A new Learn > Image Analysis menu to the left of Help would start a "course" GUI where users can browse and run topics
  • Topics correlate to a new class of Teacher plugins, organized by category, of increasing complexity (e.g., Imaging Fundamentals, Basic Techniques, Advanced Techniques, Scripting, <External>...)
  • Clicking on a particular topic shows:
    • A brief explanation of why this topic is useful and/or how or when it is applied
    • A small pair of before/after preview images
    • Links to pre-requisite topics
• In the search panel, we would have a Learn section to list all Teacher plugins
• Commands that have associated Teacher plugins would have a "Learn" button, similar to Help and Source

Plugin Infrastructure

The core of this work is a new Teacher plugin type, comprising:

• A rationale/description of the concept
• Before/after previews
• A series of steps guiding the user through the technique. The core here is to logically break down steps in the process and explain their rationale.
• A final interpretation guide for the output (maybe optional?)
• Commands used in this guide
• Pre-requisite Teachers

One place I am not sure of, but suspect could see some variability is how input data is handled. Ideally, each Teacher would have options for:

• Generatng "appropriate" input data ("generate" could be as simple as opening known sample data)
• Using user-provided data

Teacher handling

This is first and foremost a GUI-focused experience. That said, I would like to decouple the display of Teacher plugins so that we are not tied to one particular framework. In my prototype Coloc_Teacher a "wizard" experience is generated by a series of SciJava plugins. This is OK but I would like to explore using a fancier, dedicated swing wizard library. However, that shouldn't infiltrate the core Teacher plugins.