28.9.2011, Future Learning Spaces, the 7th annual Designs on E-learning 2011 conference, Aalto University, Finland

1. Extending the virtual and
physical learning environments
Development Manager Ilkka Kukkonen
@ilkkakukkonen
28.9.2011
Designs on E-learning 2011
Aalto University, Helsinki

2. A new kind of project approach: LIVE/LOVE
• 3 year mentoring program for developing regional
education and support teachers competence for ICT in
education (2008-2010)
• Participants: 50 high school and primary level teachers
• Real development projects and challenges in local schools
• ”The more teacher commits and participates in the
project, more the workplace benefits”
• Meetings and sessions 1-3 times per month

3. Widening the
experience and feeling
of participation

4. Challenges: The Collaborative Space
• How to equally accomodate teaching and
engage local and remote participants to
collaboration in same space?
• How to mix and integrate physical and virtual
learning environments?
• How to implement lecture capture technology
of live classes for systematical use?

5. THE SPACE – STARTING POINT

6. THE SPACE – DEVELOPMENT BEGINS

7. LIGHTNING AND ACOUSTICS

8. CABLING INSTALLATION

9. INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNISHING

10. SPACIOUS AND ACCESSIBLE

11. VERSATILE AND MULTIPURPOSE

12. ATTRACTIVE AND ”COMFY”

13. Video projection to support local and
remote participation
• Use of two displays: operative and
communicative projection
– ”Operative” display is projected from
presenter’s desktop
– ”Communicative” display projects the selected
media for participation (e.g. ACP, Second Life)
• Motion tracking cameras are positioned to
support the feeling of participation and presence

15. LIFE-SIZE PROJECTION

16. REMOTE PARTICIPANTS’ VIEW

17. LIFE-SIZE VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS

18. LIFE-SIZE VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS

19. LIFE-SIZE VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS

20. INTEROPERABILITY WITH
APPLICATIONS AND
TECHNOLOGY

21. SHARED SURFACES

22. SHARED SURFACES

24. PROJECTION

25. PROJECTION
SHARED SURFACES

26. Audio
• Total microphone
coverage with thorough
audio mixing
• Fixed echo cancellation
technology
• Dedicated audio system
for lecture capture

27. AUDIO PROJECTION
Audio is projected through the communicative display and
the speakers are installed behind the screen,
simulating the voice of the avatar

28. LECTURE CAPTURE

29. AUGMENTED REALITY
http://www.arsights.com
Presentation name / Author 28/09/2011 29

30. Presentation name / Author 28/09/2011 30

31. How the teachers experienced the space?
• The informants (8) were selected according
their activity
– All of them had used the space at least 20
times as participant and the host
– Most of them had used the space for
educational purposes and meetings
• Data was collected via email-survey and
supplemented face-to-face

32. Inductive content analysis
• Original answers were condensed into short
sentences and similar sentences were categorized
into seven categories
• Categories were then labeled e.g.
– natural feeling for teacher/chair
– maintenance and continuous development
– technology as agent of change

33. Findings from content analysis
• In general, people who have used the space are satisfied
with equipment and technical features such as sound
and camera systems and large screens
• The tailor-made space for connecting remote and
present groups provides a natural feeling for teacher
that is encouraged through various functionalities and
continuous improvements
• Future requirements vary user by user and are minor
modifications (noise control, lightning, etc.); the
possibility to use personal laptop was mentioned the
most

34. Findings from content analysis
• There is always a threat of inequality
– Remote participants may feel unequal participants and
this requires skills to encourage interaction by the
teacher or chair
• Small room serves as intimate space for special
group tasks that require focusing
• Small room limits the group size through
functional limitations (air conditioning, furniture),
technical limitations (camera tracking)

35. Findings from content analysis
• Responsible technical support is needed to ensure up-
to-date configuration and overall performance of the
room
• The users challenge developers to continuous
improvements and tests for new features and functions
• Technological features encourage and motivate users to
develop new skills
– The more teacher used the space, the less technical
support was needed, and the more they were willing
to try new features