中文摘要：

探讨了网络技术和虚拟现实技术支持下的协同虚拟地理教学环境，提出了一种协同虚拟地理教学环境的框架模型，并使用Java和Java 3D开发出原型系统。原型系统在以龙卷风为主题的协同虚拟教学中得到实际应用，效果良好。

英文摘要：

A new geographic education environment supported by network and virtual reality, called collaborative virtual geographic education environment （CVGEE） was proposed. A framework of CVGEE was then proposed and a prototype was implemented in Java and Java 3D. The prototype was applied successfully in a distributed geographic education on tornado. Results showed that CVGEE changed education space from real centralized one to distributed virtual one, as well as real education progress to virtual one. Results also showed that CV-GEE emphasized students＂ participation and immersive experience, which resulted in equal roles playing and group knowledge discovery in collaborative and interactive environment.