Eduforia
Basic idea of the system is to make learning process interesting and support of teamwork, regardless of geographical location or users’ health status.
About
One major issue with existing e-learning systems is lack of online learning materials combined with slow and difficult process of creating new ones. Thanks to implementation of “Live Search API”, Eduforia system enables direct contact with the world’s biggest knowledge database – the Internet.
Important element of the system is extensive support for 3D graphics. Advantage is possibility for import of existing 3D models into the system. All that is needed for incorporating 3D models into the scene is converting it into XAML format which is already a de-facto standard for user interfaces in latest .NET 3.0 platform.
System implements two main modes of work, “Collaboration mode” and “Classroom mode”. Main idea behind the first one is teamwork and the latter one is basically a simulation of a real classroom. Users are connecting to a central server via easy-client application and all together learn or solve some problem. After logging in, every user gets his “working board”. Working board is in fact an interactive 3D environment. Users can put their different objects into their board. Objects can be 3D models, notes, articles from online encyclopedia, files from local machine etc. Users can import online materials, and make their own mind maps by connecting different objects on the scene. Board can be adjusted to meet different users’ needs. E.g. adjustments for different school lectures, like different wallpapers for math, geometry, music…
In Collaboration mode all users have the same rights on the board. That means, every user can write on the board, put, move or delete objects. Besides putting objects on the scene, users can use set of tools for manipulating them, like moving, scaling or rotating of objects, moving and zooming camera, drawing and selecting. If graphic tablet or Tablet PC is used application recognizes that and advanced pen functionality can be obtained like different pen pressure and text or shape recognition.
Classroom mode is different from Collaboration mode in users’ rights on boards. Just like in the real classroom, one user is teacher (user with full rights), and other users are students (users with limited rights).