PANSIG 2023

The MAVR SIG Forum at PANSIG2023 featured a session with Adam Stone, who provided an Introduction to Unity for Educators. Unity was highlighted as a powerful game engine used for creating video games. Attendees were asked about their programming experience, including Python, C#, Java, Basic, Octane, and HTML. Stone proceeded with instructions on installing Unity using Unity Hub and Visual Studio, emphasizing the importance of installing these tools for the session. He also mentioned the need to create an account on itch.io, an online platform for sharing games and interactive experiences.  More info at https://mavr.site

Throughout the session, Stone guided the audience on navigating the Unity Hub and starting a new project. He introduced the Unity editor, explaining its various windows and views. Attendees were shown how to manipulate objects in the 3D space and add components and scripts to them. Tips were shared on creating 3D objects, adjusting gravity, and importing images as game assets. Stone also discussed the Unity transform and coordinates system, providing a foundation for working with objects in the Unity environment. The session concluded with instructions on uploading a game to itch.io and configuring the necessary details for sharing the game with others.

Notes from Facilitator Adam Stone:

 On Saturday May 13th at 16:15, I facilitated a 90 minute workshop that introduced Unity, a popular game-engine often used for creating 3d games, including VR and AR. I have used Unity to create and publish two AR smartphone apps.  The goal of the workshop was to have the participants create and publish a 3d WebGL app on a website called itch.io within the 90 minute workshop.

  This goal may have been a little ambitious, and unsurprisingly, there were technological issues. 

Fortunately it was a rather intimate group, with four people in attendance. One participant had prepared the Unity software in advance, and another managed to install it during the workshop. The walls of the classroom were lined with display monitors, so one participant was ale to screen-mirror their laptop so that other people could participate vicariously.

  I had prepared a google doc with the necessary code snippets to get things working, which worked well. We started by making a few 3D game objects, adding physics and gravity, and then scripted keyboard controllers. We then uploaded the WebGL build to itch.io. 

  Success! This was very encouraging for the participants, and so we added some UI to the project. We managed to add a textbox, an input field and a button, and then we ran out of time!  I think the participants came away with the confidence to further pursue developing apps with Unity. I also really enjoyed myself, and am looking forward to teaching this again!

Here is a link to a ‘game’ made by a participant in the workshop. Unfortunately, WebGL apps do not usually run on smartphones, try opening it in a browser. 

Exploring the Potential of Metaverse and ChatGPT in ELT

2023-05-14, 10:10–11:10 (Asia/Tokyo), S301

Metaverse and ChatGPT are two popular technology-related keywords that have been widely discussed. Despite the potential negative aspects of these innovations, students currently learning English are expected to be proficient in the latest technology for their future careers. It will be valuable for students if we teach them English and help them become familiar with the latest technology and understand its benefits and limitations. I will discuss how Metaverse and ChatGPT can enhance and enrich English teaching and learning. In the first part of the talk, I will share my experience of using Virtual Reality (VR) as one example of Metaverse in several VR projects. By reflecting on the projects, the possibility of integrating VR into English teaching and learning will be discussed, considering the characteristics of VR, such as immersive, interactive, and cooperative language learning. In the latter part of the talk, I will provide some suggestions for using ChatGPT to teach English listening and speaking, such as creating pragmatically appropriate dialogues with ChatGPT. While concerns have been raised about ChatGPT potentially stifling students' critical thinking skills, the presentation will provide implications of how the latest technology can facilitate higher-order thinking skills aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy.