CreateAccess boosts socioeconomic mobility by providing onramps to 3D creation through exposure education.
Our freely available, hands-on microcourses for beginners ignite curiosity, instill confidence, and build bridges to further experimentation, education, and career paths.
Why 3D Creation?
Today’s students engage with 3D computer graphics technology every day through games, movies, and social experiences. The way we interact with computing is becoming more 3D-centric as:
- our phones are increasingly capable of beautiful 3D visuals
- virtual reality and augmented reality grow in popularity
- game experiences like Fortnite and Roblox become connected social experiences beyond gaming for their millions of users
The technology to create 3D content and experiences is becoming easier to use, making this field approachable to beginners. The accessibility of economic and creative opportunities in 3D creation is enabled by:
- software tools that are completely free or free to start
- no-code and low-code tools to create interactive 3D experiences without deep technical knowledge
Fortnite Island created with Unreal Editor for Fortnite by Neil Morrison
3D model created with Polycam by Fernanda Paredes
TIM SWEENEY, FOUNDER AND CEO, EPIC GAMES
“We see the future of this medium primarily not about Epic’s work, but about the work of independent creators…This gets us to a really key question here, and that is ‘who is going to build the metaverse in the future?’ We believe the answer has to be all of us together.”
Daniel Sturman,
Chief Technology Officer, Roblox
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"We are building a platform that will enable every user to be a creator…allowing any of our 58.8 million daily users to create unique content that can be shared across the platform."
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CreateAccess Microcourses
Example Microcourse
Bring the Real World to FOrtnite Using Unreal Editor for Fortnite and Photogrammetry
Build a unique Fortnite island using the newly-released Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN)! First, use Polycam, a phone-based photogrammetry app, to create 3D models from everyday, real-world objects. Next, import your models into a Fortnite island using UEFN, and use UEFN's modeling tools to refine your model's appearance. Use your imagination and experiment with UEFN's robust creation tools to keep building your 3D experience.
ACCESS THE FULL MICROCOURSE ON THE MICROCOURSES HUB
3D Model created with Polycam and Blender by Avery Shorter
Fortnite Island created with Unreal Editor for Fortnite by Joshua DeStefano
CreateAccess uses a microcourse model to engage beginners in 3D creation. Our microcourses:
- Are freely-available to anyone without a login or paywall
- Provide step-by-step and end-to-end workflows broken into digestible chunks
- Are tested with beginner creators before we publish them
- Are relatable, incorporating creators’ interests and everyday life
- Use professional 3D creator tools that are free or free to get started
- Can be completed in a few hours
- Support quick success and confidence to keep experimenting
- Are self-directed - creators work at their own pace, and use built-in self-assessments to check progress
- Are differentiated - every microcourse includes written and video Learning Guides and facilitator resources
Our three stage, iterative strategic plan engages educators; students as both participants and contributors; and the tech industry to create and facilitate 3D creator microcourses, and build a hub of exposure education for everyone to enter the field.
Our Strategic Plan
Our Collaborators
CreateAccess is grateful to work with Malvern Preparatory School as its formative partner in microcourse creation and piloting.
Bentley Systems provides office space for the CreateAccess summer 2023 team.
BostonGFX (GFX=Graphics for Everybody) aims to equip learners with comprehensive skills in Computer Graphics and XR through interactive learning experiences at UMass Boston, the third most diverse university in the nation. BostonGFX will use CreateAccess microcourses to support hands-on, project-based learning opportunities for students.
CreateAccess is a member of the Metaverse Standards Forum to collaborate on building an open and interoperable metaverse with approachable learning opportunities for everyone.
CreateAccess develops freely available microcourses for Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
Collaborate with CreateAccess
CreateAccess is seeking organizations and individuals to collaborate with us as contributors, implementation partners, and volunteer facilitators.
Implementation Partners
Any individual creator, organization, or program is encouraged to use and adapt the freely-available materials on our Microcourses Hub. Our microcourse materials have been tested with a range of ages in settings as diverse as schools, summer programs, and a boxing gym. If you would like support with implementing a microcourse or to discuss working with CreateAccess to develop or adapt a microcourse specific to your needs, please contact hello@createaccess.org
Volunteer Facilitators
If you love supporting new creators and exploring 3D creator tools, we'd like to connect you with our implementation partners and support you with our microcourse materials to help you facilitate a microcourse. Contact us at hello@createaccess.org
Contributors
CreateAccess is facilitating a community-driven hub for exposure education for 3D creators. If you have a 3D creation tool you love and would like to create content that helps beginner creators learn to use it, contact us to collaborate: hello@createaccess.org
Photogrammetry model editing in Blender by John Dailey
Presentations
CreateAccess loves sharing information about our work and opportunities to support beginner 3D creators! Check out materials from some of our recent events below.
The Future of Fortnite (in Education)
Liz Dailey, CreateAccess Co-Founder & Executive Director, presented with Steve Isaacs, Education Program Manager, Epic Games, and Cathy Cheo-Isaacs, Education Operations Manager, Epic Games about CreateAccess’ foundational work to engage beginners in 3D creation using the Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference
June 2023, Philadelphia, PA
Onramps to 3D Creation Through Exposure Education
Epic Games Secondary Educator Summit
August 2023, Virtual
Liz Dailey, CreateAccess Co-Founder & Executive Director; Kevin Quinn, CreateAccess Educator Consultant; and Ben Donohue, CreateAccess Student Communications Manager & 3D Creation Instructor, presented CreateAccess' microcourse model and its potential for social impact to more than 150 educators in the Epic Games community during the session “Onramps to 3D Creation Through Exposure Education.”