vAcademia – Educational Virtual World with 3D
Recording
Mikhail Morozov and Alexey GerasimovMari State Technical University, Russia
Mikhail FominykhNorwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
International Conference on Cyberworlds 25–27 September 2012. Darmstadt, Germany
3D Virtual Worlds
• Multiuser• Synchronous• Persistent• Facilitated by networked computers• Each user is represented by a single avatar• Three-dimensional graphical interphase• Social Worlds/Game Worlds
3D Virtual Worlds
• Multiuser• Synchronous?• Persistent?• Facilitated by networked computers• Each user is represented by a single avatar?• Three-dimensional graphical interphase• Social Worlds/Game Worlds
3D Virtual Worldsas learning environments
• Low cost and high safety• Three-dimensional representation of learners
and objects• Interaction in simulated contexts • Sense of presence • Variety of tools
Challenge
Synchronous - Asynchronous
Synchronous(online)
Asynchronous(offline)
TraditionalLearning Face-to-face classes
Text booksVideo recorded
classes
2D e-Learning Videoconferences Recorded videoconferences
3D e-Learning Classes in virtual worlds ?
Types of learning
Synchronous/live Asynchronous/content
Transformation of synchronous to asynchronous 2D e-Learning
Synchronous class
Asynchronous class
Face to face class
Videoconference
CMS/LMS
live/online
content
Proposal
Face to face class
Synchronous class
Asynchronous class
live/online
content
Transformation of synchronous to asynchronous 3D e-Learning
VirtCAST
Synchronous(online)
Asynchronous(offline)
TraditionalLearning Face-to-face classes
Text booksVideo recorded
classes
2D e-Learning Webinars Recorded webinars
3D e-Learning
Types of learning
Synchronous - Asynchronous
vAcademia
1. Starting a class in vAcademia
2. Press Recording button
3. Conducting a class in vAcademia
4. Press Stop button
5. New content – 3D recording of the class
6. 3D recordings – course content
Previous Work?
• Asynchronous Virtual Classroom (1999)• N*Vector (2000)• MASSIVE-3 (2002)• Wonderland
Teaching tools
Real world vAcademia
Chalk and board Interactive white boards
Pointer for each user
Pointer
Slide show presentations
Slide show presentations
Web camera sharing
Web camera
Desktop sharingDesktop
Teaching toolsTeaching tools
Backchannel
Clicker tools
Text, graphic, and voice notesText, graphic, and voice notes
Users may share their comments and impressions in the form of text, graphic, and voice notes.
CollectionCollection
Educational resources for both teachers and students may be uploaded into Collection.
Environment designEnvironment design
Users can organize learning space at any location of vAcademia by arranging the furniture in the way they like.
User’s 3D objectsUser’s 3D objects
Users can upload their own 3D objects in Collada format, which extends the possibilities for creating learning environments
Time machine
tR1 R2
R3
R4
R5
Real time class 1
Real time class 2
Real time class 3
Real time class 4
Parallel space
Parallel time
Real time class R0
R1
R1
R2
Recording
Replay
Recording
Web-site support
New course
3D recordings
3D recording info
Scenarios of use
• Visiting a 3D recording• by a group of learners• actively working inside• with almost the same presence effect
• Creating a new 3D recording being inside one• guiding learners only through some parts of
the original class• enhancing a class with additional discussions,
questions and comments• using text, graphic, and sound notes
Visiting a 3D recording
tLive class
R1 – 3D recordings of the class
R1
3D recording without some of the parts
x x x
R2
R1 – 3D recordings of the classt
R1
R2 – shorter 3D recording based on R1
3D recording with additional and replaced parts
x x
R1 – 3D recordings of the classt
R3 – longer 3D recording based on R1
R1
R3
3D recording with enhanced with notes
x x
R1 – 3D recordings of the classt
R4 – 3D recording based on R1
R1
R4
Current usage
• Several IT courses at the Mari State Technical University, Russia
Current usage
• English for beginners at the Mukogawa Women's University in Japan
Current usage
• High school advanced chemistry course in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia
Future directions
• Additional functionality • custom learning environments• convenient environment and teaching tools
• Improving accessibility• different operating systems• mobile devices• browser-based client
• New learning scenarios• synchronous and asynchronous activities• Virtcast – new type of user-generated content
• Collaboration in research
Thank you!
http://vacademia.com
http://www.facebook.com/vAcademia
@vacademia_info
http://www.slideshare.net/vacademia
Educational virtual world [email protected]
presented by Mikhail [email protected]
http://www.idi.ntnu.no/~fominykh/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/fominykh
http://slideshare.net/mfominykh/
http://vacademia.com/userprofile/show/id/808
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