This document discusses the educational virtual environment ALiS and how it can be used as a virtual campus. It provides tools for social hubs, meeting/seminar rooms, lecture theaters, and exhibition rooms. It also describes use cases for ambassador tours of the school ethos and student achievements, a library skills hub, pre-induction activities, and recruitment events like open days. Quotes from educators praise ALiS for providing an intuitive experience that enhances learning by emulating natural lecturing and bringing virtual reality nearer through immersive 3D environments.
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Tool 3: LectureTheatres
“The virtual campus, in comparison to other video-conferencing tools, provides a more intuitive
student and lecturer experience by emulating the natural lecturing process, enhancing the
learning experience. ”
— Dr Sarah Montano, Director of BSc Business Management
Programmes (Singapore)
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“People who recognise education as a dynamic and progressive
activity are always pushing the limits of what is possible for teachers
and learners.
Virtual reality remains all too intangible for many but ALiS brings that
vision nearer via three-dimensional, multi-sensory environments and
real-time immersive interaction.
We are excited to be working with the Mirrador team to make
authentic virtual spaces for students and teachers.”
- Dr Richard Pountney, Principal Lecturer in Education, Sheffield Hallam University
Editor's Notes
Immersive 3D platform – user controls avatar, interacts with other users and content
Variety of features and functions inc: lectures, meetings, user profiles
Elephant in the room!
Several institutions and individuals experimented with it for T&L
Exploit affordances of virtual worlds = immersion, interaction, simulation
Optimise affordances of vWorlds
Remove major constraints = UI/UX, Learning curve. Not only SL, much of education software is the same.
SL has massive scope, but difficult to tailor for education (key-cutting machine?)
ALiS has been developed specifically for teaching & learning (key!)
Our aim = Users should be able to start using ALiS without help/training of any kind.
Intuitive, natural and uncluttered.
Icon based (cross-platform potential)
No complicated, overwhelming menus
Teachers don’t have time for manuals!
focus on selected CORE functions - intentionally restricted functionality based on need
Whole platform underpinned by AUTHENTIC SOCIAL INTERACTION
Allow authentic conversations between people anywhere in the world
Unique and authentic social interaction – mingling, conversations
Meet people, discuss topics/themes etc
<15 people – many-to-many VoIP enabled
In development – agenda/minutes functionality – automatic post-session email
<100 CCU – 1-to-many VoIP (presenter to audience)
+ Slides, laser pointer, text chat, polling
Natural and familiar context/setting
Multimedia content driven – audio, video, images
Authentic social interaction in learning context
Many-to-many VoIP – max 1 guide+ 5 guests per Tour (multiple tours in one scene)
Tethered, text chat
Empower students to run virtual School Tours to promote School ethos and curriculum
Celebrate student achievement and content through displays in ALiS exhibition rooms
Fully VoIP - Meetings & workshops with collaborative doc review
Extend support service identity post re-brand (new space + new virtual space!) – increase audience, visibility and engagement
Increase familiarity with campus - ease transition for international students arriving in UK
Network socially before arriving
Cultural/city-based content – e.g. food, drink, arts, etc
Exhibition room including stalls and related content
Live existing student, staff and alumni reps
Interactive team posters that link to team websites – raise awareness of support services
Event posters that link to event pages – increase engagement
PhD/masters poster presentation sessions in ALiS exhibition rooms