Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments
on the Internet

Final Year Project by Ray Jackson @ MMU, England.


 

 
Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments aim to be more engaging, interactive and experiential than traditional educational software by immersing the user in a three-dimensional virtual world that provides direct engagement, immediate visual feedback, and interactivity.  The aim of this project is to investigate the theories behind collaborative interaction and learning in virtual reality environments on the Internet. Furthermore, an evaluation of the technical issues and potential tools for building such an environment shall also be conducted.  A system called ‘The Virtual Campus’ shall then be presented which aims to provide an appropriate virtual environment for learning.  A critical evaluation of this system shall then follow based on the earlier research. 

 
 

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The Manchester Metropolitan University owns the copyright to this project report and all its associated materials.


 

Final Project Report

Interface Design

Java Class Libraries

Instructions for setting up the browser


Interface Design


 

This is a screenshot of the Virtual Campus interface which contains 4 main windows:
1. VRML Browser Window
2. Control Panel Window
3. Message Panel Window
4. Blackboard Image Window

(For more details see the main project report)

Java Class Libraries

There are in total 10 Java Classes as outlined above. The first set of classes are concerned with the networking and communication of client information and the other set are concerned with the User Interface Windows (e.g. Control Panel, Blackboard etc.). A description of each of these classes is given below:

Client/Server Network Communication Classes

 MuClient.java
MuReceiver.java
MuServer.java
MuDispatcher.java
MuProtocol.java

User Interface Classes

 MuLoginPanel.java
MuControlPanel.java
MuMessagePanel.java
MuBlackboard.java
MuMessageWindow.java

Instructions for setting up the browser

1. First of all download and Install the Sony Community Place VRML Browser. (Click here to download)

2. Next create a directory to store the VRML and Java files e.g. C:\VRML\Mu

3. Now place each of the following VRML files in the newly created directory:

4. Next place each of the Java classes in the same directory as above: 5. Create a directory named '.hotjava' (NB: Dot before hotjava) in each client's home directory e.g. C:\HOME\.hotjava. If the client does not have a home directory then add the following line to the autoexec.bat file:
SET HOME=C:\HOME

(Where C:\HOME is the name of the desired home directory)

6. Create a 'properties' file in the .hotjava directory which allows access to the above directory created in Step Two e.g. C:\VRML\Mu. An example of this properties file can be found here

7. Now you must set up the server. This involves copying the following files to a publically accessible directory on a suitable Web Server:

The Web Server used in this project was the 'daffy.doc.stu.mmu.ac.uk' server at MMU. To change the location of this server to another one amend the HOST setting in the 'MuClient.java' file and recompile.

8. Now login to the appropriate Web Server e.g. daffy.doc.stu.mmu.ac.uk (using telnet if necessary) and start the Java Server up by typing 'java MuServer'. The server should report 'Waiting for client connections...'

9. Now start up each client browser by opening the 'MuClient.wrl' file in the Sony CP browser. e.g. Click on open and then type C:\VRML\Mu\MuClient.wrl

10. Each client should then connect to the Java Server and a login screen should appear on the terminal. Enter a name, gender etc. and then the main Interface should appear containing the Control Panel, Message Panel and Blackboard Window.

11. For more information see the main project report or mail me at Ray.Jackson@iname.com