| Row ID | Full name in Chinese/中文全名 | Full name in English/英文全名 | Gender/性別 | Current Year of Study/目前就讀的年級 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 劉善思 | Lau Sin Sze Zoe | Female/女性 | Grade 10 (Secondary 4)/中學十年級（中四） |
| 2 | 王馨宇 | Wang Cindy Hing Yu | Female/女性 | Grade 10 (Secondary 4)/中學十年級（中四） |
| 3 | 陳芷楠 | Chan Tsz Nam | Female/女性 | Grade 11 (Secondary 5)/中學十一年級（中五） |
| 4 | 曾慧寧 | Tsang Evelyn Wai Ning | Female/女性 | Grade 11 (Secondary 5)/中學十一年級（中五） |
1. Challenges Faced by Students:
(i) Digital Literacy Needs
In today’s digitized world, students must develop digital skills like programming and game creation to stay competitive. However, many lack access to resources due to limited time or equipment at schools, forcing them to rely on self-learning.
(ii) Students in Hong Kong
Hong Kong students face intense academic pressure, leaving little room for creativity or ECAs. Schools prioritize rote learning over critical thinking and digital literacy. Underprivileged students often lack access to essential tools like laptops or tablets. To ensure a better future, Hong Kong must provide equal access to digital resources for all students.
(ii) Students Worldwide
Globally, children face barriers like poverty, inequality, war, and geographic isolation, denying them quality education. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals emphasize education's importance, yet 250 million children were out of school in 2023 (UNESCO). Without education, adults face unemployment and financial struggles, making this issue critical.
2. Challenges of Traditional Education
Traditional education is less sustainable and flexible than online learning. Paper reliance contributes significantly to environmental harm. Additionally, students often struggle to receive timely feedback on difficult topics due to time and location constraints.
These are the problems we aim to solve with UMeta.
1. AI-Powered Teachers for Personalized Learning:
UMeta’s AI teachers are a cornerstone of its personalized learning experience. These virtual educators are powered by Gemini. Through an API key, Unity seamlessly communicates with Gemini, allowing the AI to generate contextually relevant responses to students’ queries. These responses are then displayed within the metaverse.
To ensure the AI teachers align with educational objectives, we employed prompt engineering to define the tone and purpose of interactions. Keywords and details from lesson materials were integrated into Gemini, enabling the AI to understand and respond accurately. This ensures that students receive tailored support, catering to their individual learning pace and needs.
2. Unity: Crafting the Virtual Learning Environment:
The entire school environment was meticulously designed and assembled in Unity, leveraging its robust tools to create a cohesive and engaging learning space. Unity’s versatility allows for the integration of 3D models, interactive elements, and educational content, bringing the virtual campus to life.
The user interface and experience (UIUX) was programmed in C#, ensuring smooth navigation, interactivity, and functionality across the platform. Unity’s ability to handle complex simulations and real-time interactions makes it the ideal choice for creating an environment where students can explore, learn, and grow.
5'I's of UMeta:
1. Immersive:
UMeta uses cutting-edge technology, developed with Unity and programmed in C#, to create a virtual campus that mirrors real-world school environments. This immersive design allows students to explore and interact with their surroundings, fostering engagement and motivation. By recreating a school atmosphere, UMeta makes learning enjoyable and enriching.
2. Informational:
The quality of education depends on the content provided. UMeta offers verified educational materials curated by experienced teachers, ensuring accuracy and relevance. These resources follow a progressive learning path, building a strong foundation of knowledge and encouraging critical thinking and intellectual growth.
3. Individualized:
Recognizing that students learn differently, UMeta features AI-powered virtual teachers that provide instant, personalized feedback. This tailored approach adapts to individual needs, helping learners progress at their own pace, build confidence, and overcome challenges.
4. Inclusive:
UMeta prioritizes inclusivity with cross-platform compatibility for iOS, Windows, and Linux, accessible on devices like computers and smartphones. Features such as text-to-speech make it usable for visually impaired individuals, ensuring equitable access to education anytime, anywhere.
5. Interactive
UMeta transforms learning into a dynamic experience with games, 3D environments, and simulations. These tools simplify complex concepts, encourage active participation, and foster curiosity, making education both engaging and effective.
Personal Information Collection Statement (PICS)/收集個人資料聲明:
1. The personal data collected in this form will be used for activity-organizing, record keeping and reporting only. The collected personal data will be purged within 6 years after the event.
2. Please note that it is obligatory to provide the personal data required.
3. Your personal data collected will be kept by the LTTC and will not be transferred to outside parties.
4. You have the right to request access to and correction of information held by us about you. If you wish to access or correct your personal data, please contact our staff at lttc@eduhk.hk.
5. The University’s Privacy Policy Statement can be access at https://www.eduhk.hk/en/privacy-policy.
- I have read and agree to the competition rules and privacy policy/我已閱讀並同意比賽規則和隱私權政策。