integrating a web3d interface into an e-learning platform
DESCRIPTION
Presentation @ Web3D 2010 (co-located with Siggraph 2010), Los Angeles, USATRANSCRIPT
24 July 2010
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Integrating A Web3d Interface into an E-learning Platform
Francesco Di Cerbo+, Gabriella Dodero+, Laura Papaleo*^
+ Free University of Bolzano-Bozen* G3 Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Genova^ ICT Department, Provincia di Genova
Web3D International Conference, Los Angeles 2010
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Outline
Introduction The DIEL e-learning platform Our approach Web3D interface for DIEL
Examples, results Concluding remarks
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Introduction
The Web has grown, allowing richer and interactive content Web technologies are becoming more stimulating
➢ collaborative spaces. Web-based knowledge transfer is becoming important We foresee a research trend in studying and designing e-
learning collaborative systems where interactions among users can be done in a 3D environment, as a game-like immersive virtual reality.
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What we have done
Present our interactive e-learning platform DIEL developed as an extension to Moodle
Focus the attention on the design, development and implementation of an innovative 3D client interface which uses the X3D standard in combination with WebGL and X3DOM
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Related Work
A number of studies has been focusing on effectiveness and benefits brought in e-learning by the use of metaverses, especially with Second Life. [Abbatista et al. 2009, De Lucia et al. 2008, 2009, Sancho et al. 2008].
In those works, a positive tendency emerges, especially for substituting direct face-to-face communications.
Previous works using different technologies [e.g. Pfister et al. 1998] focus on virtual learning spaces, that ease the fruition of contents, providing➢ representational and mnemonic method on mapping
semantic onto spatial relations.
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Authoring &Visualizing Web3D Content Several technologies exist to create 3D content for the web.
Most of them are plug-in based systems This adds more complexity for the end user
O3D: a Google attempt to establish an open standard for 3D graphics on the web.
X3D: open ISO standard for creating specifications for representing 3D graphics
WebGL: a new cross-platform, royalty-free web standard for a low-level 3D graphics API
X3DOM: an open-source framework developed with the aim to bring the X3D standard to HTML5 on top of WebGL.
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The DIEL e-learning platform
DIEL is an e-learning platform developed for providing new ways of user interactivity and data representation in a web-based real-time environment
Extension of Moodle Use of the social translucence concept Virtual learning space
Components: Rooms, Doors, users, resources MOODLE
DIEL
WEB3D INTERFACE
…
2D INTERFACE
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The Social Translucence Concept
How would you open this door, if you are in a hurry?
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The Social Translucence Concept
If we know that someone is on the other side, very carefully!
Social translucence is a set of principle and design guidelines for designing social applications.
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The Social Translucence Concept
Three main properties: visibility: make socially significant information
visible; awareness: visibility supports social awareness; accountability: individuals are socially accountable for
their actions. DIEL design approach:
mimetic: application represents social cues from the physical world, as literally as possible, in the digital domain.
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Previous DIEL 2D and 3D Interfaces Interactions: via chat Visible:
students, tutors door Resources
Ffilmation (Adobe) Prototype tested Visible: the
same items as in 2D
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DIEL In Action
Course conceptual representation (left) and DIEL implementation (right): 3 main topics analyzed with 4 common activities.
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Web3D Interface for DIEL
Technologies used: X3D, WebGL and X3DOM for HTML5
Designed and developed to ensure: Portability Extensibility License Simplicity of use
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Web3D Interface: Foundation Framework developed as an AJAX based web application using the
Closure JavaScript library [Google] modular and object-oriented
Responsible for handling basic operations Everything related to 3D is handled by the X3D standard.
Architecture: three main layers Client Communication User interface.
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Web3D Interface: X3D scene modeling X3D scenes can be modeled using
the XML syntax Scenes are generated dynamically at
client side, according to the directives specified by the DIEL server and conveyed with specific JSON messages
Room: X3D scene representing a Floor
Users: X3D scene representing Avatars
The Web3D Interface with a single room (floor) integrated into Moodle.
Two predefined different avatars
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Concluding Remarks
We presented a Web3D interface for supporting interactions in social constructivistic learning communities of students and teachers, inside a web-based e-learning environment.
The interface is very flexible and extensible. has been developed using X3D, WebGL
and X3DOM, among the most promising technologies in Web3D.
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Future works
Improve the interface functionalities: Avatar personalization, more sophisticated environments, more descriptive
objects for the resources, and so on…
Embed videos directly in the 3D interface, in panels or surfaces, exploiting HTML5 & X3Dom library such a functionality would be important to implement user video chats
Encode teachers’ knowledge (learning paths) into an ontological schema, supporting knowledge sharing on the web
Analyze patterns in the usage of the virtual environment, with Social Network Analysis techniques, to evaluate and assess interactions quality from an educational point of view
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Acknowledgements
X3DOM projectWEB3D community
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Thanks for the attention
WE ARE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS! Contacts: For: E-learning, Social Transulence, DIEL
Dr. Francesco Di Cerbo, [email protected] For: 3D graphics, Semantics and Knowledge formalization
Eng. Laura Papaleo, [email protected]
Coming soon: AGPL release @ http://diel.case.unibz.it
This work has been partially supported by FP6 QUALIPSO project (IST- FP6-IP-034763), founded by the European Commission, and by a grant from University of Genoa CARED research centre.