Dr. Manuel B. Garcia, Director of FEU Institute of Technology’s Educational Innovation and Technology Hub (EdITH), recently won the Best Paper Award for his research "Valentine's Day in the Metaverse: Examining School Event Celebrations in Virtual Worlds Using an Appreciative Inquiry Approach" at the 8th International Conference on Education and Multimedia Technology (ICEMT), held in Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, from June 22 to 24.

ICEMT 2024: Fostering Innovations in Education and Multimedia Technology

The ICEMT aims to address fundamental issues teachers, students, parents, and school leaders face and provide a platform for experts, scientists, professionals, and institutional leaders to share their knowledge and experiences. The conference is held annually and has become an ideal platform for people in education and multimedia technology to connect and exchange ideas. Attendees can attend keynote speeches, workshops, and panel discussions, all aimed at providing valuable insights and practical solutions to the challenges faced in education today.

<This year's theme is “Education and Multimedia Technology: Bridging the Gap,” which focuses on the relevance of using multimedia technology to enhance education and how it can bridge the gap between traditional teaching methods and modern-day learning techniques. Numerous scholars worldwide attended the conference, including those from the USA, Lithuania, Australia, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, China, Estonia, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sweden, Thailand, Mexico, the Philippines, and more.

The ICEMT 2024 committee and session chair, Prof. Akinori Ito (Dean of the Graduate School of Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University), selected Dr. Garcia's work as one of the best papers of the event. Besides the content, the event’s awarding body also considered the research presentation delivery.

Valentine's Day in the Metaverse: A Virtual Celebration at FEU Tech

The MILES Virtual World recently unveiled its Valentine's Edition, transforming the virtual campus environment to celebrate Valentine's Day with festive flair. This update introduced a series of enhancements designed to deepen the thematic immersion for students participating in the festivities.

The virtual campuses were adorned with Valentine’s Day symbols, including heart-shaped decorations, virtual roses, and oversized teddy bears. The highlight of the virtual celebration was the innovative marriage booth. Here, students could participate in virtual marriage ceremonies, providing a fun and interactive way to explore social dynamics and relationships. This booth was not just an entertainment hub but also a space for role-playing and social experimentation, offering a unique perspective on digital interaction in a secure setting.

These updates to MILES Virtual World were initially teased through a promotional campaign, sparking interest and excitement for the Valentine’s Day celebration in the metaverse.

Envisioning the Future: Educational Innovations Through Virtual Worlds

The study presented by Dr. Garcia in front of researchers and technologists worldwide is not just a research paper but a vision of the future of education. This study examines how FEU Tech’s MILES Virtual World, which already fosters an online school environment mirroring the physical world of academia, became a conducive platform to celebrate events like Valentine’s Day. It also explores how educators can leverage a similar setting to make education more accessible and engaging for students, especially in the modern world. This research is a testament to the potential of virtual spaces to revolutionize the way we learn and teach.

Presenting the paper during the ICEMT 2024 allowed Dr. Garcia to showcase FEU Tech's innovative steps to empower its students and cater to their various learning styles.