working on educational content in 3d collaborative virtual environments: challenges and implications
DESCRIPTION
Collaborative construction and exploration of educational content is an important part of a learning process. In this paper, we focus on collaborative construction of educational visualizations in 3D Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVEs), analyzing results from our earlier case studies in Active Worlds and Second Life. We discuss various aspects of presenting educational content in a 3D environment, such as aesthetics, functionality and expressed meaning, various design solutions adopted by students in their constructions and the challenges they faced. Furthermore, we outline the implications for using 3D CVEs for working on educational content as a part of everyday classroom activities.TRANSCRIPT
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Working on Educational Content in 3D Collaborative
Virtual Environments: Challenges and Implications
Ekaterina Prasolova-Førland and Mikhail FominykhNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Norway
Theodor G. WyeldFlinders University (FU)
Australia
IASTED International Conference on Computers and Advanced Technology in Education25.08.2010. Lahaina, Hawaii, USA
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Contribution
• 5 case studies• 4 major categories of constructions• 3 aspects of presenting content• 2 platforms
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3D Virtual Environments
Three dimensional, multiuser, synchronous, persistent environments, facilitated by networked computers
Active Worlds Second Life
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Content in Virtual Environments
• What is Content?• How to use it for learning?
• Constructionism• Social constructivism
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Information Spaces
• Great freedom of construction
• Real-life experiencebut• Significant effort
required• Difficulties with
navigation and search
• Scaling up problems
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Abstract Concepts
• Improving understanding
but• Time-consuming• Ambiguity of
visual symbols
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Crystallized Activities
• Overcoming cultural differences
• Activities can crystallize into content
but• Limited awareness• Limited
coordination• Social challenges
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Student Environments
• Supplementing virtual campus
• All construction categories - all types of benefits
but• Functionality vs.
reality resemblance
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AestheticsFunctionalit
yExpressedmeaning
Visual Shells
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Visual Shells. Aesthetics
• Enhance motivation• Trigger creativitybut• Weak connection to content• Complicated navigation
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Visual Shells. Functionality
• Clear and simple structures• Well known metaphors• ‘Traditional’ ways of displaying
contentbut• The less ‘Aesthetics’ the better
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Visual Shells. Expressed meaning
• Better understandingbut• Significant amount of effort
and planning• Less flexible structure• Ambiguity of symbols
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Text Multimedi
a 3D symbols
Straightforward
Ambiguous
Vague and dull
Vivid and appealing
Filling visual shells with content
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Visualization harmony
Presentation
Aesthetics
Functionality
Expressed meaning
Content
Text
Multimedia
3D symbols
conflict
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Platform issues
• 3D or not 3D
• Bandwidth and computer power• Resources for training• Building blocks• Connection to existing projects
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Conclusion
• Exploration of educational visualizations in 3D collaborative virtual environments
• Discussion of visual shells for presenting educational content
• Implications for “content – presentation” conflict/harmony
• Implications for technological platforms
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Thank you!
Ekaterina Prasolova-Førland and Mikhail Fominykh
NTNU, Norway
E-mails: [email protected]
Slides: http://slideshare.net/mfominykh/Second Life: http://slurl.com/secondlife/NTNU/