Configuarable and flexible immersive learning environment: An enhanced solution for the OpenSim platform to support end-users

Abstract

Information and communication technologies have influenced our way not only to acquire and share knowledge but also to collaborate and communicate. Consequently, this has strongly influenced the way how communities or learners share knowledge and collaborate in various learning environments and settings. In particular learning and collaborating in immersive environments are proving to be effective in areas such as skills training. However, early development of immersive learning settings follow the traditional methodology of designing and developing environments for a specific learning goal or activity. The literature review of previous experiences revealed that new forms of learning require flexibility and adaptation towards the learning groups' needs. This situation has motivated our international research collaboration to focus on approaches for adaptable configuration with reuse of learning settings in immersive environments. A promising proof of concept for the Second Life platform has led to an improved approach for the open source platform, OpenSimulator. This papers reports about the conceptual approach, design and development as well as findings for further work. The main contribution in the paper covers a Web-based configuration tool. It supports end-users (learners and teachers) to design and reuse learning settings that include 3D components and in-world tools. Managed settings are automatically created in in-world instances of OpenSimulator which caters for on demand requests.