Using VTK as a Tool for Teaching and Applying Computer Graphics

Abstract

During the first semester of 2005/2006 we used the Visualization Toolkit (VTK) as a tool for teaching and applying Computer Graphics, both for Computer Engineering students who chose to attend the 3D Modeling and Visualization course, and for M.Sc. students specializing in Computer Graphics. In both cases, students had not only to use VTK in about half of their lab classes, in order to accomplish some tasks and gain some knowledge on VTK s features and functionalities, but they were also required to develop a visualization application based on VTK. We describe first the motivation for using VTK in these two different scenarios, as well as the main course topics where we used the toolkit. Afterwards, we present some of the most successful projects developed by our students. Finally, we state some conclusions.