Problem Statement:

With the advent of high speed networks it is now possible to create collaborative tools that will benefit education and research projects. Virginia Tech is committed to building an Advanced Communications Information Technology Center (ACITC) where collaborative virtual environments (VE) such as the CAVE can be used to solve many problems associated with distance learning, outreach and research across the state of Virginia. Currently, the University Visualization and Animation Group (VT-CAVE) has successfully implemented collaborative projects with business organizations and higher education institutions across the state. To date, however, the high cost of equipment and network access have prevented collaborative projects with K-12 organizations.

In the Update to the University Plan 1996-2001, Strategic Direction 3.4 states that "We will enhance the university’s status as one of the leading innovators nationally in the application of advanced communications and information technologies to instruction, research, outreach and administrative support." The VA Tech Institute for Connecting Science Research to the Classroom was created in 1996 to provide a mechanism for connecting the numerous independent laboratories, specialized centers and research projects at Virginia Tech to public school teachers and students. Manufacturers and service providers are already relying on virtual prototyping and simulation to gain an advantage in today’s competitive business environment. The virutal environments will play a major role in many of the careers for which students are currently preparing for, as virtual environemnts from the desktop to the CAVE are used more and more by corporations, government, and the military to test products and processes not otherwise possible with full scale mockups

This project, a joint venture between the VT-CAVE Group, the Institute, the Virginia Governor’s Schools, Virtual Prototyping and Simulation Technology (VPST) Inc. and SGI Inc. will demonstrate that the use of collaborative virtual environments for instruction can be extended to students in K-12 schools.

This project will link the Central Virginia Governor’s School in Lynchburg, the Central Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School in Fishersville and a third school to be identified this summer via the Internet to the Virginia Tech CAVE. Currently, using the EVL CAVE Simulator, students at the remote sites could view a simulation running in the VT-CAVE but their participation would be passive.

Recently, the VT-CAVE has been included in the National Science Foundation’s National Computational Science Alliance — Partnership in Advanced Computational Infrastructure (PACI) as one of six key virtual development sites nationally. One focus of the VT-PACI Alliance proposal was the investigation of how to create collaborative virtual environments to enhance distance learning. Currently, PACI funds are being used at VA Tech to develop CAVE Networking Application Supporting Multi-User Virtual Environment (CAVE.net) software. Kevin Curry and Kent Swartz are programming a collaborative overlay for the EVL CAVE Simulator which allows interactive collaboration between users at multiple CAVE sites and/or collaboration between users at a CAVE site and users running the EVL CAVE Simulator with Limbo awareness tools at remote sites. Users at all locations are represented by avatars in real

time and linked via audio. Each user can be seen moving through the virtual environment, can point at specific objects and hold conversations with the other users. For a summary on current features of Collaborative Awarness Tools see http://www.sv.vt.edu/future/paci/limbo/limbo22jun 98.html . The goal of this project is to demonstrate that the CAVE.net-EVL CAVE Simulator, when combined with Limbo awarness tools can be used to deliver a collaborative virtual learning environment to K-12 students in remote locations across Virginia.

Summer 1998

Fall 1998

Spring 1999

Summer 1999

Because the goal of the project is to demonstrate a new method of instruction in K-12 schools, much of the evaluation needs to be formative in nature and based on the input of the teachers, students and researchers. We will ask all participants to email bi-weekly reports to the CoPI relating activity, tasks completed, problems, successes, failures, impressions and suggestions. The compiled information will be used by the team members each quarter to gauge progress toward the stated objectives. An annual report on the project will be compiled next summer and sent to SGI and the Virginia Tech Institute for connecting Science Research to the Classroom in August, 1999.

Software for schools 3 @ $1800.00 $5,400.00

VT-CAVE time 100 hrs @ $200.00 $20,000.00

Hardware / Software 150 hrs @ $100.00 $15,000.00

Funds for staff release time,

summer stipends & mileage 3 schools @ $4,500.00 $13,500.00

Expenses for training teachers

at Tech 3 teachers X 8 days

24 days @ $100.00 $2,400.00

Internet Access 3 schools @ $5,000.00 $15,000.00

Contribution to O2 Workstations 3 schools @ $3,500.00 $10,500.00

Project funds contributed by Virginia Tech, VPST Inc, and Governor’s Schools $92,300.00