This paper presents a prototype of a low-cost Mixed Reality Interactive Table (MRIT) which is equipped with a Web camera, a projector, animal-appearance robots, gloves with accelerator sensors, and a computer. The motivation of the development of the MRIT is to provide a low-cost learning environment where students can learn effectively when they play an educational software game on the interac...

Interactive simulations and virtual environments can play a significant role in facilitating learning through engagement, immediate feedback and by providing real-world contexts. Interactive 3D interfaces have a significant impact on the user interface usability and interactivity. We present several case-studies that have evolved from actual teaching observations and have been implemented using...

This article is concerned with the social organization of mediation in learning environments. It seeks to further articulate the sociocultural notion of mediation in sociointeractional terms, combining insights from the sociocultural approach to cognition and the microinteractionist, especially ethnomethodological approach to social activities.Amicroanalysisofmediation incommunicative2nd-langua...

Many interactive learning environments (ILEs) offer on-demand help, intended to positively influence learning. Recent studies report evidence that although effective help-seeking behavior in ILEs is related to better learning outcomes, learners are not using help facilities effectively. This selective review (a) examines theoretical perspectives on the role of on-demand help in ILEs, (b) review...

In this paper, we motivate the role-playing metaphor for intelligent educational interfaces in two ways: first, as an enjoyable interaction style between users and animated agent characters, and secondly taken more literally we argue that the concept of social role should be considered in the design of agents’ mental models. In particular, we introduce social control programs that qualify the a...

It is postulated that one of the main problems with e-learning environments is their lack of personalisation. This chapter presents a comprehensive review of the current work in the field and proposes a framework for research in promoting personalisation in Web-based learning environments. The concepts of adaptability, adaptivity and the limitations of completely adaptive systems are discussed....

Digital tabletop displays and other large interactive displays have recently become more affordable and commonplace. Due to their benefits for supporting collaborative work—when compared to current desktop-based setups—they will likely be integrated in tomorrow’s work and learning environments. In these environments the exploration of information is a common task. We describe design considerati...

This paper introduces and analyzes problems and issues in the design and use of cognitive tools in open, user-centered learning environments. It introduces a classification scheme for tool functions, and showcases several tools in a current educational hypermedia research and development effort. Information-seeking, information-presentation, knowledgeorganization, knowledge-integration, and kno...

Active learning facilitated through interactive and adaptive learning environments differs substantially from traditional instructor-oriented, classroom-based teaching. We present a Web-based e-learning environment that integrates knowledge learning and skills training. How these tools are used most effectively is still an open question. We propose knowledgelevel interaction and adaptive feedba...

Edutainment and serious games-games move into professional applications p. 2 An efficient method for real-time ocean simulation p. 3 The dynamic textures for water synthesis based on statistical modeling p. 12 Constructing a convenient and efficient system for making virtual human accentuated by customized 3D face and body p. 22 The design and implementation of VBS p. 34 View-dependent hierarch...