Spongelab is a

science education Science education is the teaching and learning of science to school children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education includes work in science content, science process (the scientific method), som ...

website for teachers and students created by Spongelab Interactive. The website provides a free online collection of multimedia including educational games, videos, images, and lesson plans, with a focus on game-based learning. Spongelab.com is a web-based teaching platform that allows educators to combine science,

discovery learning Discovery learning is a technique of inquiry-based learning and is considered a constructivist based approach to education. It is also referred to as problem-based learning, experiential learning and 21st century learning. It is supported by the ...

tools and technology to create a visually engaging interactive whole. The website is a self-described “global science community” that has seen its base grow to more than 50,000 active monthly users. It stitches together interactive multimedia, online teaching and classroom metrics. Users gain points and credits for exploring the website, which can be used to unlock access to discounts for science education products.

Platform description

Spongelab.com, is a web-based education platform specializing in playing science-based games and teaching students about

STEM fields Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is an umbrella term used to group together the distinct but related technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The term is typically used in the context of ...

topics. Teachers can access the website and create lesson plans for their classes. Students can learn through the various animations, games, graphics and simulations while achieving credits, levels and badges to redeem for Spongelab avatars. The website also can be used to track the results of online learning through analytics.

Spongelab Games

Knowledge Mine combines trivia with puzzles to reward players’ knowledge of

biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary ...

. This game is intended for high school and post secondary students who are currently studying in

. Players must navigate through knowledge mines while answering questions boosting their score to new levels. Build-a-Body is an interactive game where 8th-12th graders play transplant surgeon. Students

drag and drop In computer graphical user interfaces, drag and drop is a pointing device gesture in which the user selects a virtual object by "grabbing" it and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object. In general, it can be used to ...

organs into place on the

human body The human body is the structure of a human being. It is composed of many different types of cells that together create tissues and subsequently organ systems. They ensure homeostasis and the viability of the human body. It comprises a hea ...

. They score points for correctly placing the organs and figuring out what part of the body they connect to. Build-a-Body also incorporates various illnesses for players to diagnose and for them to target and decide those systems. This game received a Honourable Mention in the International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge - Interactive Games section 2011.

Genomics Digital Lab Genomics Digital Lab (GDL) is a browser-based series of educational games, simulations, and animations created by Spongelab Interactive. It is designed to teach high school students about biology including photosynthesis, respiration, transcripti ...

is an interactive simulation and engaging game that focuses on problem solving and the basics of biology. In one mode, the player learns what a leaf needs to survive by adjusting a plant's light, liquid and air intake. A glycolysis game has players fire an arcade-like shooter at glucose blobs to convert them and turn them into energy. Life of a Plant was the first version of Genomics Digital Lab in 2007. In a study conducted and published, "In total, 161 participants played a series of games focused on the “life of a plant”, and were given both a pre and post quiz to determine if the game helped them retain and/or change what they knew about scientific processes like plant cell anatomy and

photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored i ...

. Participants showed statistically significant improvement on quizzes that were taken after playing the game for approximately one-hour sessions." Transcription Hero is a game that is inspired by the popular

Guitar Hero ''Guitar Hero'' is a series of music rhythm game video games first released in November 2005, in which players use a guitar-shaped game controller to simulate playing primarily lead, bass guitar, and rhythm guitar across numerous songs ...

series. You play the role of RNA polymerase (the enzyme responsible for

DNA transcription Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA. The segments of DNA transcribed into RNA molecules that can encode proteins are said to produce messenger RNA (mRNA). Other segments of DNA are copied into RNA molecules called ...

). As the DNA sequence scrolls towards the player on the screen, the player will need to transcribe it by pressing the corresponding keys on the guitar. History of Biology (video game) is a browser based

scavenger hunt ''Scavenger Hunt'' is a 1979 American comedy film with a large ensemble cast which includes Richard Benjamin, James Coco, Scatman Crothers, Ruth Gordon, Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley, Richard Mulligan, Tony R ...

style educational game. Players must also make use of the Internet to scavenge additional information required. Students learn about the key figures and discoveries throughout history which have influenced the field of science. The game leads players to discover the impact of these people and events on today's society, ethics, politics and culture.Village Gamer http://www.villagegamer.net/2010/08/05/go-on-a-scavenger-hunt-in-history-of-biology-from-spongelab/

References

{{Reflist Organizations based in Toronto