In the News
Epic Games
The makers of Fortnite were in Utah for the first time showing Davis School District educators how to use the world’s largest game to engage and educate students on a virtual level.
At the Davis Catalyst Center in Kaysville, Epic Games staff wrapped up a 35-hour course about using Fortnite Creative and Unreal Engine as an educational tool. The teachers learned how to use the technology to meet students where they are already at while also introducing valuable coding and engineering skills.
“What if we could do a lesson on Martin Luther King Jr. on Fortnite? What if we could do a lesson on object-oriented programming except we are going to do it running down the hallway of a haunted mansion? It’s the same concepts, just a new way to do them,” said Davis School District Computer Science Instructor Derrek Bitner.
Language arts students could also be assigned to create an alternate ending in 3D after reading a novel in class.
“It’s almost like, in so many ways, it's like they’re using a tool like that to create an experience that is much more engaging and immersive than a PowerPoint and they know it as well or better than PowerPoint,” said Epic Games Education Program Manager Steven Isaacs.
This is the second time Epic Games representatives collaborated directly with a large school district and the only time in the western United States.
The Davis Catalyst Center is a magnet school connecting high school students with industry leaders in high-demand career fields.
Alex Boye
International recording artist Alex Boyé turned to Davis Catalyst Center students to record his latest song.
“This is mind-blowing to me,” said Davis Catalyst Center student April, who is a fan of Boyé and dreams of producing music.
“I haven’t had that many opportunities in my life and I’ve never considered myself one of the cool kids. I wasn’t expecting this at all,” she said.
The magnet school in Kaysville is specially designed to partner Davis School District students with industry mentors and businesses.
“I heard we are doing this with Alex Boyé I was like, ‘great opportunity. I’ll take that. Put it under my belt,’” Davis Catalyst Center senior Jonah said.
For two days, Boyé and music producer KC Knight relied on DCC audio production students for a cover of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from the movie, Encanto.
“I had this idea of bringing this very, very, extremely popular song that every kid on the planet knows right now and putting it through the Catalyst machine,” Boyé said. “It’s coming out really good. I’m really really excited.”
While Boyé wants the students to gain confidence, April admits she’s walking away with a lot more.
“It’s probably the best educational experience I’ve ever had,” April said.
Boyé also plans to use DCC students to create a music video for the song.
Fry Sauce
Davis Catalyst Center students team up for the first round of creating fry sauce in hopes of being deemed the top sauce. Not only did the students create the fry sauce from a wide variety of ingredients, but the also marketed their concoctions to a panel of judges. The top sauces will next be judged by students at a few secondary schools.