Unit Four
In this unit, students transition into Unreal Engine for the first time. They will learn how to navigate the editor, import assets, and begin building a basic scene. The main focus is successfully importing their rigged character from Blender and understanding how assets work in the engine.
Topics Covered
- Unreal Engine interface overview (viewport, content browser, details panel)
- Importing characters and verifying rig/animations
- Applying materials and textures inside Unreal
- Placing and moving actors in a level
- Lighting basics: directional light, skylight, and post-processing
- Saving projects and packaging for testing
Assignments
Learning Report
Objectives
- Navigate the Unreal Engine interface with confidence
- Import a rigged character and verify geometry and animation function
- Apply simple materials and textures in-engine
- Set up a basic lit scene with a character placed inside
- Save, render, and upload a scene to the portfolio
Materials
- Unreal Engine installed on classroom computers
- Completed rigged character from Unit 3
- Reference notes from Blender export
Assessment
Students are assessed on whether they can successfully import their character, apply materials, and set up a simple scene in Unreal. Proper file organization and portfolio submission are required.
Activities
Students explore the Unreal interface, import their rigged character from Blender, apply basic materials, and build a simple scene with lighting. They will then render a screenshot or short flythrough video and publish it to their portfolio.
Education Standards
The following standards are drawn from the 2024 AME Industry Skills Framework:
- 4.3 — Use job-specific hardware/software for workflows and delivery
- 4.5 — Apply rendering and exporting techniques to meet standards
- 17.5 — Model digital characters and prepare them for engine workflows
- 18.2 — Understand artist workflows across modeling and engine integration
- 20.1 — Investigate how game engines and real-time rendering are used in production