In-Depth Post #2

It’s been a few weeks since In-Depth projects started, and I am currently making good progress. I have found a mentor a week ago; Mr. Linburg, a school teacher who teaches the Game Design course, has agreed to mentor me and guide my learning. Together, we created a detailed plan for my in-depth learning for the next few weeks.

Before I begin to create games in Unity, I will have to learn how to create 3D models. Mr. Linburg suggested that I learn how to use Blender.

I have begun learning how to use Blender, a software that can be used for creating 3D graphics for video games. So far, I have completed some small projects in Blender. I created a simple donut, as well as a low-poly scene. At first, the Blender interface seemed difficult to work with, and I felt slightly overwhelmed. However, after checking out the resources provided by Mr. Linburg and watching videos online, I was able to get the hang of using Blender. Now, I feel passionate and curious to learn more about the software. Below are the 3D images that I created so far:


A simple donut that I created in Blender.

A low-poly scene that I created in Blender.

Questions:

  1. How did your mentor gain their experience/ expertise?

Mr. Linburg has gained much of computer and technical knowledge while working on a two business and technical diploma at BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology). He also has a BA, BEd and an MSc. Within those other degrees, he also has a collection of technology-related instruction. Since then he used his skills and expertise to learn and develop expertise in new areas of technology. He has also taken workshops and completed online programs to further hone his skills, especially in new and emerging fields of 3D animation and 3D gaming. 

  1. What were those experiences like for your mentor?

When Mr. Linburg went through school, the fields of 3D animation and 3D game design were in their infancy and were not well developed or accessible. Being curious and being willing to constantly train and retrain was essential for Mr. Linburg to be successful in the high tech area of gaming and design. 

  1. What wisdom have you gained from your mentor so far?

I have learned from Mr. Linburg that game design requires patience and flexibility. Game design is a complex subject, and learning about it can often seem difficult or boring. It is essential to stay patient and determined when learning about game design. Flexibility is also very important, as technology moves forward at a very fast pace. To be successful in game design, it is important to be constantly willing to learn new things.

 

  1. What have you learned so far, in terms of facilitation strategies, that might contribute to your own development as a mentor?

I learned that it is important to equip your mentee with helpful resources. Mr. Linburg has provided me with tons of resources about Blender on his website, which greatly helped me to learn about Blender. I’ve also learned that planning together with your mentee is a good idea. I had many discussions with Mr. Linburg, and we created a detailed guide for my learning. Talking to your mentee and creating a plan together helps guide your mentee in the right direction and gives the mentor a better understanding of the mentees’ goals. I will try to incorporate these strategies in the future when I am a mentor.

 

Overall, I believe I have made good progress over the past few weeks. I felt a passion as I worked on my projects, a desire to learn more. I will continue to learn about using Blender for the next 2-3 weeks, and then move on to using Unity to begin creating a game.

I am excited to see how the game will turn out!

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