Interactive 3D: Rube Goldberg in Unreal Engine

If you were unable to join us for the “Interactive 3D - Live Demo: Rube Goldberg” thematic community meeting, don’t worry! You can catch up on the key points and find links to further resources below.

Key Takeaways

1.Unreal Engine offers an accessible introduction to industry tools for students through creative, gamified learning experiences.

2.The Rube Goldberg Learning Kit is structured to teach simple machines and physics concepts in an engaging, problem-solving framework.

3.The Rube Goldberg competition encourages students to design innovative chain reaction machines with the theme “feed a pet.”

4.Teachers can easily integrate these resources into lessons without being experts in Unreal Engine.

5.Gamified approaches like this foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among students.

The session, led by Steve Isaacs from Epic Games and Brian Dickman from Cleverlike Studios, introduced the Rube Goldberg Learning Kit for Unreal Engine. This kit helps students explore concepts like physics and engineering while learning to navigate a professional-grade 3D platform.

Steve Isaacs shared his journey from a classroom teacher to his current role at Epic Games, emphasising the importance of empowering students with tools that align with their interests, like video games. Brian Dickman provided an engaging live demonstration, showcasing how the kit’s activities guide students through building chain-reaction machines while mastering Unreal Engine.

The learning kit includes six lessons, each focusing on a simple machine—such as the inclined plane, lever, or pulley. Each activity encourages students to experiment, fail, and iterate—a playful, gamified approach that mirrors the problem-solving required in real-world engineering. For example, the first lesson introduces inclined planes, prompting students to use this simple machine to solve practical challenges like guiding a ball into specific buckets.

One highlight of the kit is its accessibility. Teachers don’t need prior expertise in Unreal Engine. The provided resources—student guides, video tutorials, and lesson plans—break down complex concepts into manageable steps, making it easier to integrate into classroom learning. For students, the playful, hands-on environment not only demystifies advanced tools but also sparks creativity and interest in STEM careers.

The session also highlighted the Rube Goldberg Unreal Challenge, a global competition open until February 12, 2025. Teams of two can submit projects for a chance to win exciting prizes, including high-spec computers. This year’s theme, “feed a pet,” invites students to design imaginative, chain-reaction machines using the skills developed in the learning kit.

Here are some questions to reflect on and exercises to try in your own teaching practice:

•Reflection:

•How can you integrate gamified learning into your curriculum to make abstract concepts more tangible for students?

•What tools or platforms could you introduce to help students explore creative problem-solving in STEM?

•Example Exercises:

•Challenge students to build a simple machine in Unreal Engine or a physical model of a Rube Goldberg machine in the classroom.

•Use the competition theme, “feed a pet,” as inspiration for a collaborative group project.

Watch the recording

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