Dr. Manuel B. Garcia, the founding director of the Educational Innovation and Technology Hub (EdITH), represented the FEU Institute of Technology and won Bronze for the Technology Innovation Award at the 2024 e-Learning Forum Asia (eLFA). Dr. Garcia prepared the entry and presented it to the judges during the preliminary round on November 19. The awarding ceremony took place at the Hong Kong Baptist University on December 4–5, 2024.

Clark Raven B. Maranan, EdITH’s 3D artist responsible for producing the 3D elements in the MILES Virtual World, attended the prestigious forum and accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Garcia.

e-Learning Forum Asia Awards

The eLFA is a major annual event dedicated to advancing the use of technology in education across Asia. Founded in the early 2000s, eLFA serves as a platform for educators, technologists, and solution providers to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and present innovative ideas. One of its prestigious awards, the eLFA Technology Innovation Award, recognizes individuals or organizations that demonstrate excellence through innovative and effective use of technology in education.

Notably, Dr. Garcia had also received the same award in 2022 for his self-developed project, the MILES Network Map. This application visualizes the relationships between topics from previous, current, and future courses while also providing access to relevant learning materials.

Fostering Educational Innovation in Asia

Initially focused on institutions in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, eLFA has expanded its reach to include Mainland China, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The forum addresses the unique opportunities and challenges faced by educational institutions in Asia as they integrate technology into teaching and learning.

With the rise of eLearning in recent years, especially during the pandemic, eLFA has become a critical space for educators to explore new technologies, instructional changes, and research findings that are transforming education. The forum attracts participants from over 40 countries globally, making it an international educational innovation hub.

Meanwhile, the eLFA Awards, established in 2019, aims to recognize, reward, and share exemplary practices among the eLearning communities in all participating countries or regions. It aligns with eLFA’s mission to promote the nexus between education and technology by facilitating the exchange of challenges and successes experienced by different situations.

Scientists Teaching Future Scientists

This year's entry is an exciting proposal on integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) within the metaverse. The project, titled "Scientists Teaching Future Scientists," envisions a virtual world where non-playable characters (NPCs) are empowered with AI capabilities to simulate real-world teaching and mentorship

In his recorded presentation, Dr. Manuel B. Garcia highlighted the innovative potential of intelligent entities within virtual worlds to revolutionize education. One compelling example he presented was the use of NPCs inspired by renowned scientists such as Albert Einstein. These NPCs, imbued with AI-driven expertise and conversational abilities, can guide students through complex scientific concepts, answer their questions in real time, and even challenge them with problem-solving scenarios.

MILES Virtual World and Beyond

To achieve the project's goal, EdITH’s in-house-developed MILES Virtual World is set to undergo another round of significant enhancements. Over the years, the MILES Virtual World has evolved through various editions, each showcasing unique applications. One notable edition focused on celebrating school events in the metaverse, which was presented at the ICEMT 2024 conference last June in Tokyo, Japan, where Dr. Garcia received the Best Paper Award for his innovative research.

FEU Institute of Technology’s recognition at the eLFA Awards 2024 represents a pivotal milestone in the institution’s pursuit of technological innovation. Furthermore, EdITH’s ongoing development of the MILES Virtual World demonstrates its unwavering commitment to advancing educational technology through continuous exploration of diverse perspectives and research.

By leveraging cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and the metaverse, FEU Institute of Technology through EdITH aim to enhance the learning experience for their students. This initiative not only solidifies their position as leaders in educational technology within the region but also reinforces their dedication to shaping the future of education through innovation.