Selecting a Networked Virtual Environment Platform and the Design of a Collaborative e-Learning Environment

Author

Konstantinidis, A. ; Tsiatsos, Th.

Author_Institution

Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki

fYear

2008

fDate

25-28 March 2008

Firstpage

44

Lastpage

49

Abstract

Our goal was to create a 3D virtual environment which could be used to carry out online lectures and which would offer the most popular features of current CVEs. This paper initially discusses the potential of 3D networked virtual environments for supporting collaborative learning and presents the assets of such systems. Furthermore, the paper reviews the features of five such software applications, through the comparison of the tools and services they offer. These include tools for supporting communication, sharing applications, organizing and coordinating the teaching process and for interacting with the virtual environment through an avatar. Based on that comparison, we justify our choice of platform and discuss design and implementation issues. Finally, future work regarding the assessment of the virtual environment is discussed.

Keywords

computer aided instruction; groupware; virtual reality; 3D networked virtual environments; 3D virtual environment; collaborative e-learning environment; collaborative learning; communication support; networked virtual environment platform; online lectures; software applications; teaching process coordination; teaching process organization; Application software; Collaborative work; Communication channels; Computer networks; Education; Electronic learning; Informatics; International collaboration; Space technology; Virtual environment; 3D; Collaborative Virtual Environments; Croquet;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Advanced Information Networking and Applications - Workshops, 2008. AINAW 2008. 22nd International Conference on

Conference_Location

Okinawa

Print_ISBN

978-0-7695-3096-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WAINA.2008.59

Filename

4482888