extending the limits of cve' s to support collaborative e-learning scenarios page 1 icalt 2002...
TRANSCRIPT
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
pa
ge
1IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVEs to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
C. Bouras, and T. TsiatsosComputer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras
and
Research Academic Computer Technology Institute, GREECE
[email protected], ru6.cti.gr
pa
ge
2IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Introduction
• This paper focuses on:– the use of Collaborative Virtual Environments
(CVE) in order to provide collaborative e-learning services
– the transformation of well known collaborative learning techniques to collaborative e-learning scenarios
– necessary modifications of the CVE in order to support collaborative e-learning services and scenarios
pa
ge
3IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Related technologies for e-learning (1/3)
• Document-focussed web-based training tools – e.g., Hyperwave eKnowledge Suite, WebCT
– Focus on the management of documents and objects
• Meeting focused tools– Videoconferencing tools (e.g., NetMeeting) and
Synchronous training tools (e.g., Centra ympocium)
– Focus on frontal learning
– Improper for collaborative e-learning because they• offer reduced social presence of the participants
• do not support many concurrent users to be visible at the same time in the same space (usually one person is visible at a time)
pa
ge
4IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Related technologies for e-learning (2/3)
• 3D-centered tools: – Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE), e.g., Active
worlds, and ParallelGraphics– Advantages regarding collaborative e-learning:
• nearness and social presence through a shared virtual space populated by avatars
• support of non-verbal communication through avatar gestures, and facial expressions
• support of many people at the same time in the same virtual place
• can simulate tools that are located in a traditional classroom (such as card moderation boards and whiteboards)
– Disadvantage: Usually focus on avatar movement and 3D-chat
pa
ge
5IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Related technologies for e-learning (3/3)
Therefore CVEs can be used in order to support collaborative e-learning if we overcome their limitations by extending their functionality and focus on collaborative e-learning scenarios
pa
ge
6IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Collaborative learning scenarios
• Brainstorming/Roundtable
• Think pair share
• Jigsaw
• Quickwrites/Microthemes
• Structured academic controversies
pa
ge
7IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Proposed functionality (2/2)
Technique/ Functionality
Appli-cation
Sharing
Voice Chat
Text Chat
Whi-spering
Brain-storming
tool
Upload of e-learning material
into the 3D shared space
Sub-groups of
users
Brainstorming/ Roundtable
Think pair share
Jigsaw
Quickwrites/ Microthemes
Structured academic controversies
pa
ge
8IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Proposed extensions to CVE’s (1/4)
• Many people with different roles– CVEs should support virtual communities with
many concurrent courses and groups of users available
– The users should have different roles and rights in each course/group, such as tutor/moderator/learner
pa
ge
9IC
AL
T 2
002
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Proposed extensions to CVE’s (2/4)
• More media: e-learning centric view of CVEs instead of– VR centric view – Mixed reality systems– Media centric view
pa
ge
10
ICA
LT
200
2
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Proposed extensions to CVE’s (3/4)
• More awareness:– Awareness of other participants:
• human-like photo-realistic avatars and gestures, mimics
– Awareness of objects and actions:• Who is talking (3D voice, special icons in the avatar
body)
• Who is chatting (bubble chat)
• Who is sharing a file, presenting a video
pa
ge
11
ICA
LT
200
2
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Proposed extensions to CVE’s (4/4)
• More technology in order to offer:– Scalability, Stability, and Openness– Services such as:
• application sharing
• voice and text chat
• streaming video
• user and content manipulation
pa
ge
12
ICA
LT
200
2
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Proposed solution
• Basic idea:– Divide the processing load of the necessary services in
a set of servers:• Message server for multi-user VR worlds (virtual classrooms)
• Streaming server for streaming video
• Chat server for text chat
• T.120 server for application sharing
• Audio server for voice chat
• Database for user manipulation/content
– Use many message servers to support sets of virtual classrooms
pa
ge
13
ICA
LT
200
2
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
Proposed Architecture
pa
ge
14
ICA
LT
200
2
Extending the Limits of CVE' s to Support Collaborative e-Learning Scenarios
The end
Thank you for your attention!