Development of class support system for online classes and video recording using avatars

In this study, a class support system was developed to facilitate the use of avatars in the recording of online classes. Based on the qualitative shift in education “from teaching to learning” advocated in the 1990s, the importance of active learning has become widely known. The use of ICT, such as digital teaching materials and online tools, plays an important role in the implementation of active learning. Among these possibilities, this study focused on the use of avatar technology. This is because the use of avatar technology has the potential to contribute to the transformation of students’ communication awareness in meetings and to the creation of on-demand teaching materials that attract the students’ interest. On the other hand, the use of avatars requires high cost in terms of environmental development and operation. Therefore, with the aim of supporting an easy introduction and utilization of avatars in various classes, this study designed and developed an experimental class support system consisting of an avatar meeting environment, an avatar video recording environment, and startup tools for each environment, all of which are composed of freeware and inexpensive equipment. The developed system was customized for launching experimental environments in two studies, one dealing with avatar meetings and the other with avatar video recording, and was evaluated through trials by the experimenters in each study. As a result, a stable environment was established in both trials. This paper reports on the merits and challenges of the system that were confirmed through the trials.