Abstract:

Graphical knowledge representations open promising perspectives to support the explorative learning on web. 2D-visualization are recently evaluated as gainful knowledge exploration systems, whereas 3D-visualization systems did not find their way into web-based explorative learning.
3D-visualizations or “Knowledge Worlds” comprise a high degree of authenticity, because the used metaphors are known by the users from the real world. But different challenges like the usage of 3D-Knowledge World without losing the learning context and the focused learning goals are rarely investigated and considered. New technologies provide the opportunity to introduce 3D-visualizations and environments on web to support a web-based explorative learning. Therefore it is necessary to investigate the prospects of 3D-visualization for transferring and adopting knowledge on web.
The following paper describes different approaches to use 3D-visualization and Knowledge Worlds for conveying knowledge on web-based systems using web-based contents. First of all a short summary of existing approaches will be given, which try to convey knowledge by using 3D-metaphors. A survey of developed 3D-visualizations for knowledge exploration within semantically annotated content will show new ways and opportunities to explore and convey knowledge. Whereas only pure graphic-based systems will be described, which are developed in the context of a German research project. In contrast to 3D-visualization the so called 3D-Knowledge Worlds will be presented and described with their potential for constructivist and exploratory learning approaches. The paper will conclude with a summary of existing techniques in contrast to the developed ones to show the community the potential of the state-of-the-art systems in a kind of survey.

Keywords:

Exploratory Learning, web-based learning, web-based visualization, semantic visualization, 3D Learning Environments.