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. 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 via the Internet to the Virginia Tech CAVE.

The goal of this project is to demonstrate that users at a CAVE site and users running the EVL CAVE Simulator can deliver a collaborative virtual learning environment to K-12 students in remote locations across Virginia. This project is a joint venture between the VT-CAVE Group, the Virginia Tech Institute for Connecting Science Research to the Classroom, the Virginia Governor's Schools and SGI.

• To connect K-12 students at three remote locations via the Internet to the Virginia Tech CAVE.
• To provide K-12 students the opportunity to learn about and experience virtual environments.
• To allow K-12 students to actively collaborate with professors who are using the CAVE for their research.
• To create and deliver a content specific lesson to K-12 students using a virtual environment that allows the students at remote sites to actively collaborate with each other as they investigate the subject matter.

Tasks completed to date:

• The VT-CAVE (Blacksburg), the Central Virginia Governor’s School (Lynchburg), and the Central Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School (Fishersville) all "shared" virtual CAVE space in real time via the Collaborative Cave Console. Three-dimensional objects were introduced into the virtual cave. All participants were able to fly around and move these objects.
• Preliminary lesson plans are being developed for:
• familiarizing students with the Collaborative Cave Console software
• a chemistry lesson dealing with structural isomers of simple organic compounds
• Dialog has begun on ideas for a future physics lesson possibly involving force feedback.

Dr. Ronald D. Kriz

Principal Contact and Director of the University Visualization and Animation Group of the Advanced Communication Information Technology Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Dr. Thomas Morgan

Director, Central Virginia Governor's School for Science and Technology, Lynchburg, VA