Adaptable visual presentation of 2D and 3D learning materials in web-based cyberworlds
Authors:Chittaro L., Ieronutti L., Ranon R.
Published in:The Visual Computer Journal, December 2006, Vol. 22, No. 12, pp. 1002-1014.
Abstract:Educational Cyberworlds allow one to circumvent physical, safety, and cost constraints that often affect real-world training and learning scenarios, allowing students to study the learning content flexibly and individually. However, this does not eliminate the need for presenting the educational materials in an effective way, using the visualization, interaction and presentation techniques that are better suited to the learner’s preferences, abilities, and available devices. The system we present in this paper is able, starting from a set of available educational resources (e.g., text, pictures, movies and 3D models) and lesson structure (e.g., suitable ordering of topics), to automatically build a set of alternative Web-based educational Cyberworlds characterized by different visualization (2D and 3D), interaction and presentation techniques, including virtual humans as instructors. The learner (or her instructor) then can choose the Cyberworld that best fits her preferences and needs.
