Accelerating learning and creation in Unreal Engine

Posted on November 30, 2022

Unreal Engine training at UNCG's Esports Arena
The first Unreal Engine Accelerator Experience, hosted at the UNCG Esports Arena and Learning Lab in late October, was part of UNCG’s E2 Weekend series that drew high school, university, and home school educators from across the region who learned to build 3D experiences and use Fortnite’s Creative toolset to custom build using assets and devices from the game.

Many know Epic Games as the company behind Fortnite, the online survival game where players collaborate to create, play, and compete. In collaboration with UNCG,  the gaming innovator is providing a free learning experiences to North Carolina educators and students to gain the skill set needed to create interactive 3D experiences using Unreal Engine – the world’s most open and advanced real-time 3D creation tool.

The first Unreal Engine Accelerator Experience, hosted at the UNCG Esports Arena and Learning Lab in late October, was part of UNCG’s E2 Weekend series that drew high school, university, and home school educators from across the region who learned to build 3D experiences and use Fortnite’s Creative toolset to custom build using assets and devices from the game. The two-day, hand-on educational opportunity showed participants the potential of creating with these tools in the classroom.

“The true power of bringing these tools to educators is nurturing the next generation of creators. These are industry standard tools,” says Steve Isaacs of Epic Games. “If kids in high school or college leave school well-equipped to use tools like Unreal Engine, Fortnite Creative, Twin Motion, Sketchfab, and some of our other tools, they’re ready for industry opportunities.”

Industry opportunities are not just limited to the gaming world and esports.

“Unreal Engine has been broadly adopted across so many industries. So many people are using this gaming engine for more than just what it was intended for,” explains Cathy Cheo-Isaacs of Epic Games. “You have media and entertainment, many of your favorite TV shows, movies, are using it. There are car companies using Unreal Engine, there are advertisers using Unreal Engine. I mean, it’s just, it’s everywhere. And there’s a space for kids, students, anyone to create using these tools.”

William Bradshaw, a teacher in Rockingham County Schools, attended the workshop to learn more about how to use it in his high school classroom, and connect with his students.

“Educators need to consider this because it’s how you bridge the gap between what the students are interested in, and your curriculum,” says Bradshaw. “This is not only for game design teachers, it’s for teachers of all disciplines.”

UNCG is working with Epic Games to demystify the tools to remove any intimidating educators may feel about learning and adopting them.

“We want educators to understand that they don’t have to be an expert to support students in these areas,” says Isaccs. “It’s a great opportunity to work with and learn alongside their students.”

UNCG lecturer in media studies Kevin Wells sees the potential. “A lot of our students are already interested in it. We want to find a way to work it into the curriculum. This is going to be a big step for us.”

Epic Games will continue to collaborate with UNCG to offer a new Unreal Engine Accelerator Experience training February 3rd – 4th, 2023. Reserve your spot now.

Story by Alice Manning Touchette

Photography by Sean Norona

Video by Grant Gilliard

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