Vacademia is a virtual educational platform that utilizes 3D environments for synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences. The system allows users to record classes in 3D, offering a sense of presence and interaction via avatars, while providing various teaching and feedback tools. Future improvements are aimed at enhancing accessibility, collaboration, and custom learning environments across different platforms.

1. vAcademia
Virtual Spaces LLC, Russia
Educational Virtual World with 3D
Recording
presented by Mikhail Fominykh
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 15 January 2013

2. 3D Virtual Worlds
• Multiuser
• Synchronous
• Persistent
• Facilitated by networked computers
• Each user is represented by a single avatar
• Three-dimensional graphical interphase
• Social Worlds/Game Worlds

3. 3D Virtual Worlds
• Multiuser
• Synchronous?
• Persistent?
• Facilitated by networked computers
• Each user is represented by a single avatar?
• Three-dimensional graphical interphase
• Social Worlds/Game Worlds

4. 3D 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

5. Why 3D recording?
Challenge

6. Synchronous - Asynchronous
Synchronous Asynchronous
Types of learning
(online) (offline)
Text books and
Traditional
Face-to-face classes video recorded
Learning
classes
Recorded
2D e-Learning Videoconferences
videoconferences
3D e-Learning
Classes in virtual
worlds ?

7. Synchronous/live Asynchronous/content

8. Transformation of synchronous to
asynchronous 2D e-Learning
live/online
Synchronous class
Face to face class
Videoconference
content
Asynchronous class
CMS/LMS

9. 3D recording
Proposal

10. Transformation of synchronous to
asynchronous 3D e-Learning
live/online
Synchronous class
Face to face class
content
Asynchronous class
VirtCAST

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

12. 1. Starting a class in vAcademia

13. 2. Press Recording button

14. 3. Conducting a class in vAcademia

15. 4. Press Stop button

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

17. 6. 3D recordings – course content

18. 3D recording
Previous Work?
• Asynchronous Virtual Classroom (1999)
• N*Vector (2000)
• MASSIVE-3 (2002)
• Wonderland

19. Teaching tools
• Interactive whiteboard
• Content storages
• Control and feedback tools

20. Teaching tools
• Interactive whiteboard
′ Sharing of an application window
′ Sharing screen area
′ Sharing web-camera image
″ Drawing figures and typing text on the whiteboard
″ Inserting text from the clipboard
‴ Slide presentations
‴ Area print screen
‴ Pasting images from clipboard on a whiteboard
• Content storages
• Control and feedback tools

21. Teaching tools
• Interactive whiteboard
• Content storages
o Object Gallery (standard classroom objects)
o Resource collection (user objects PPT, PDF, PNG, JPEG, test
templates in XML, test results in CSV, Collada, and 3DS)
• Control and feedback tools

22. Teaching tools
• Interactive whiteboard
• Content storages
• Control and feedback tools
o Class Control
o Notes (text, sound, and graphics)
o Backchannel
o Clicker

23. Interactive whiteboard
Real world vAcademia
Drawing on
Chalk and board
white boards
[Laser] pointer Pointer for each
user
Slide show Slide show
presentations presentations
Web camera Web camera
sharing
Desktop Desktop sharing

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

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

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

27. Feedback and class control
Backchannel
Clicker tools

28. Feedback and class control
Users may share their comments and
impressions in the form of
text, graphic, and voice notes.
Text, graphic, and voice notes

29. Locations
• Common Space, Temporary, and Standard locations
• Locations “My Home”
• Communication areas
Navigation
• Large and mini maps
• Visitors menu
• Invitation to scheduled classes
• Notification about nearby open classes

30. Time machine
R5
R4
R3
R1 R2 t

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

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

33. Web-site support

34. New course

35. 3D recordings

36. 3D recording info

37. 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

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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 3D recording with enhanced with notes
R1 – 3D recordings of the class
t
x x R1
R4
R4 – 3D recording based on R1

42. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU

43. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU
• Target group
• 35 master students
• Project work in groups of 3-5
• Activities
• Lecture and a virtual tour in SL
• Lecture and a seminar in vA

44. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU
Second Life Advantages
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

45. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU
Second Life Advantages
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

46. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU
Second Life Advantages
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

47. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU
vAcademia Advantages
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

48. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU
vAcademia Advantages
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

49. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU
Second Life Limitations
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

50. First user evaluation: Cooperation
Technology course at NTNU
vAcademia Limitations
10
8
6
4
2
0

51. Patterns
vAcademia
• Few strong advantages
• 3D recording
• Educational/serious focus
• Teaching tools
• Many moderate limitations
Second Life
• Many moderate advantages
• Few strong limitations
• No 3D recording
• Technical problems
• Unserious reputation and distruction

52. Current work
• Additional functionality
• custom learning environments
• New learning scenarios
• synchronous and asynchronous activities
• Virtcast – new type of user-generated content
• New interfaces
• CAVE
• Kinect

53. Future work
• Improving accessibility
• different operating systems
• mobile devices
• browser-based client
• Collaboration in R&D
• We are looking for partners, investors, and
customers

54. Thank you!

55. presented by Mikhail Fominykh
mikhail.fominykh@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