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Serious Games To Solve Mysteries And Learn The History Of Biology


Via: Spongelab Biology - History of Biology – An Online Science Scavenger Hunt Game!

History of Biology is an interactive, online science scavenger hunt where students experience the history of biology, through the people and the impact their discoveries had on, and continues to have on, our culture, society, politics, economics, and ethics.


Starting in the 17th Century, with the invention of microscopes and the first descriptions of microscopic life, users complete weekly missions and solve puzzles by researching the lives and scientific discoveries of over 20 scientists.

Users progress through a rich story-line driven game that parallels the scientific timeline of discovery. The game content takes users through the cell theory, microscopes, classification, evolution, and mechanisms of heredity, the central dogma of genetics, the genomics revolution and where biological science is heading in the near future.

As part of Spongelab Biology, History of Biology is one of several educational games produced by Spongelab Interactive. Subscribers of Spongelab Biology have full online access to the History of Biology Game, the internationally recognized and award-winning Genomics Digital Lab (GDL), and the Bio-musical Sensation Transcription Hero.

Genomics Digital Lab is an online learning environment where users experience the world of biology through immersive discovery-based learning. Teaching and learning with GDL and all Spongelab Biology products captivates learners and engages them in the biology they are studying, while simultaneously promoting critical thinking, creativity and problem solving skills.

Here are the PRESS RELEASE excerpts.

Who needs books when you can learn through games?

TORONTO, ON – October 4, 2010- Spongelab Interactive, the award-winning educational gaming studio behind the Genomics Digital Lab series of science-based games has released its latest title, History of Biology.

Launched fall 2010, this science-themed scavenger hunt interweaves a fictional mystery storyline with actual historic events and key characters based on real-life monoliths of science. History of Biology not only educates, but provokes thought and discussion around one of the most fascinating and controversial branches of modern science - genetic engineering. The implications, of this branch of science, have far reaching effects on culture, politics and ethics today. Without weighing in on either side of the debate, the designers engage the player in a philosophical dialogue in a unique way.

Now available at http://www.spongelab.com/game_pages/hob.cfm, this online game immerses the player into the mysterious world of Dr. Walden Shyre. Players will have to scour the Internet to find clues, solve missions and break the code to reveal the secrets that Shyre has taken great pains to protect. With the future of modern science in their hands, the player must also try to evade the shadowy forces that are after Shyre’s research and closing in fast.

With an engaging storyline, as well as beautiful 3D graphics and animation, History of Biology breathes new life into a genre that has typically been text-based puzzle or trivia games. This new game is just one of the interactive simulations available for play in the Spongelab Biology educational game portfolio.

History of Biology has metrics and assessment tools to help teachers understand how their students are learning and progressing through the content and facilitate grading.

About Spongelab Interactive

Spongelab Interactive is a leader in advancing the integration of cutting edge technologies for teaching and learning purposes. Their mission is to educate learners in the sciences by building content rich immersive teaching tools designed around discovery-based learning.

Spongelab Interactive builds their own products and offers custom production services for the global education community. Their unique approach around integrating educational design with web & gaming technology is planting the seeds for continued innovation of advanced communication and education products.