The document discusses using 3D virtual worlds to capture learning experiences for asynchronous access. It describes how virtual worlds provide low-cost, safe environments for interaction and presence. Synchronous classes can be recorded in 3D within the virtual world vAcademia. These recordings then serve as asynchronous course content, allowing learners to replay, skip parts, or augment the recordings. Current uses include IT and language courses, with plans to improve accessibility and develop new learning scenarios.

1. Educational Time Machine
Capturing Learning in 3D Virtual worlds
Mikhail Fominykh
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Mikhail Morozov and Alexey Gerasimov
Mari State Technical University, Russia
The Virtual Worlds Research Network Inaugural Conference
16–18 May 2012. University of Edinburgh, UK

2. Virtual worlds
as learning environments
• Low cost and high safety
• Three-dimensional representation of learners
and objects
• Interaction in simulated contexts
• Sense of presence
• Variety of tools

3. Synchronous - Asynchronous
Synchronous Asynchronous
Types of learning
(online) (offline)
Text books
Traditional
Face-to-face classes Video recorded
Learning
classes
2D e-Learning Webinars Recorded webinars
Classes in virtual
3D e-Learning
worlds ?

4. Synchronous/live Asynchronous/content

5. 2D e-Learning
live/online
Synchronous class
Face to face class
Webinar
content
Asynchronous class
CMS/LMS

6. 3D e-Learning
live/online
Synchronous class
Face to face class
content
Asynchronous class

7. Synchronous - Asynchronous
Synchronous Asynchronous
Types of learning
(online) (offline)
Text books
Traditional
Face-to-face classes Video recorded
Learning
classes
2D e-Learning Webinars Recorded webinars
3D e-Learning vAcademia

8. 1. Starting a class in vAcademia

9. 2. Press Recording button

10. 3. Conducting a class in vAcademia

11. 4. Press Stop button

12. 5. New content – 3D recording of
the class

13. 6. 3D recordings – course content

14. Teaching tools
Real world vAcademia
Interactive
Chalk and board
white boards
Pointer Pointer for each
user
Slide show Slide show
presentations presentations
Web camera Web camera
sharing
Desktop Desktop sharing

15. Teaching tools
Backchannel
Clicker tools

16. Text, graphic, and voice notes
Users may share their comments and
impressions in the form of text,
graphic, and voice notes.

17. Collection
Educational resources for both
teachers and students may be
uploaded into Collection.

18. Environment design
Users can organize learning
space at any location of
vAcademia by arranging the
furniture in the way they like.

19. User’s 3D objects
Users can upload their own 3D
objects in Collada format, which
extends the possibilities for
creating learning environments

20. Parallel time
Real time class
R0
Recording
R1
Replay
R1
Recording
R2

21. Parallel space
Real time class 1
Real time class 2
Real time class 3
Real time class 4

22. Time machine
R5
R4
R3
R1 R2 t

23. Web-site support

24. New course

25. 3D recordings

26. 3D recording info

27. 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

28. Visiting a 3D recording
Live class
t
R1 – 3D recordings of the class
R1

29. 3D recording without some of the
parts
R1 – 3D recordings of the class
t
x x x R1
R2
R2 – shorter 3D recording based on R1

30. 3D recording with additional and
replaced parts
R1 – 3D recordings of the class
t
x x R1
R3
R3 – longer 3D recording based on R1

31. 3D recording with enhanced with
notes
R1 – 3D recordings of the class
t
x x R1
R4
R4 – 3D recording based on R1

32. Current usage
• Several IT courses at the Mari State Technical University,
Russia

33. Current usage
• English for beginners at the Mukogawa Women's
University in Japan

34. Current usage
• High school advanced chemistry course in Yoshkar-Ola,
Russia

35. 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

36. Thank you!

37. presented by Mikhail Fominykh
mikhail.fominykh@svt.ntnu.no
http://www.idi.ntnu.no/~fominykh/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/fominykh
http://slideshare.net/mfominykh/
http://vacademia.com/userprofile/show/id/808
Educational virtual world vAcademia
info@vacademia.com
http://vacademia.com
http://www.facebook.com/vAcademia
@vacademia_info
http://www.slideshare.net/vacademia