J. Fong, R. Kwan, and F.L. Wang (Eds.): ICHL 2008, LNCS 5169, pp. 54–65, 2008. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2008 A Mixed Reality Teaching and Learning Environment Victor Callaghan 1,* , Michael Gardner 1 , Bernard Horan 2 , John Scott 1 , Liping Shen 3 , and Minjuan Wang 4 1 University of Essex, UK {vic,mgardner,jrscott}@essex.ac.uk 2 Sun Microsystems Laboratories, UK bernard.horan@sun.com 3 Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China lpshen@mail.sjtu.edu.cn 4 San Diego State University, USA mwang@mail.sdsu.edu Abstract. This work in progress paper describes collaborative research, taking place on three continents, towards creating a ‘mixed reality teaching & learning environment’ (MiRTLE) that enables teachers and students participating in real- time mixed and online classes to interact with avatar representations of each other. The longer term hypothesis that will be investigated is that avatar repre- sentations of teachers and students will help create a sense of shared presence, engendering a sense of community and improving student engagement in online lessons. This paper explores the technology that will underpin such systems by presenting work on the use of a massively multi-user game server, based on Sun’s Project Darkstar and Project Wonderland tools, to create a shared teach- ing environment, illustrating the process by describing the creation of a virtual classroom. We describe the Shanghai NEC eLearning system that will form the platform for the deployment of this work. As these systems will take on an in- creasingly global reach, we discuss how cross cultural issues will effect such systems. We conclude by outlining our future plans to test our hypothesis by deploying this technology on a live system with some 15,000 online users. Keywords: Hybrid learning, online education, eLearning, mixed reality, learn- ing technology, smart classrooms, cultural engagement. 1 Introduction The world is witnessing radical changes as information technology alters how we communicate with each other and the machines that serve us. The arrival of the Internet and mobile phones has spearheaded these changes making possible the vision for “anyone, anytime, anyplace” communication, accelerating the pace of globalisa- tion, as services become affordable international commodities. Education is such a global service. Ron Perkinson, the Principal Education Special- ist for the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank Group)estimated * Alphabetical ordering. Presented at the International Conference on Hybrid Learning 2008, City University of Hong Kong, 13-15 August 2008 (c) Essex University 2008