Science Sleuth

= History =

Science Sleuths was a series of interactive videos produced by Videodiscovery, Inc. during 1991–1996. The series was first published on laserdisc with accompanying manuals that offered barcode control. Certain titles were later converted to CD-ROM format. The original Science Sleuths included 24 episodes for middle school. The laserdisc was distributed with the Science Plus curriculum from Holt Rinehart Winston. Videodiscovery and its intellectual property was purchased by Discovery Education in 2005.

Game Structure

The original Science Sleuth videodisc contained 24 mysteries for middle-school students. Each Sleuth episode was introduced by a brief video in which a fictional character would present a self-contained mystery story. Students were then offered a set of resources (video "interviews", mini-documentaries, popular media stories, scientific articles, lab results, still photographs, etc.) from which they could derive information, suggestions, and new "leads." The resources contained enough information to suggest several avenues of exploration, and ultimately to solve the case. The videos and other resources often used both humor and the pending mystery to drive the students' search. In the process learned to accumulate and apply science knowledge, while practicing problem-solving skills. Students would develop a solution which they could present in a "case report" which could reference the original videodisc resources.

Later projects adapted this structure for elementary school students (Science Sleuths Elementary), middle school mathematics (Math Sleuths), and elementary through high school health (Health Sleuths).

Other projects used a "forum" structure in which the class was divided into groups, each group arguing a point of view and set of solutions towards a problem (Science-Technology-Society Forums, for middle school and Bioethics Forums, for high school). As with the Sleuths, a video character would present a problem, and students would draw from a set of resources to support a point of view. Unlike the Sleuths, the Forums explored problems that did not have clear, cut-and-dried solutions. Students learned to explore different points of view as they role-played different stakeholders.

The Performance-Based Assessment project used a stripped-down version of the sleuths as an assessment mechanism.

Related Products

Science Sleuths - 24 interactive humorous mysteries for middle-school that explore scientific problem solving in the context of different science subjects. Live-action video with actors, graphics, animations, photographs. Videodisc, 1992; CD-ROM, 1995.1993 New York Film Festival Bronze Award for Interactive Multimedia; 1993 National Educational Film & Video Festival Bronze Apple for Interactive Multimedia; 1995 Technology and Learning Software Award.
Science Sleuths Elementary - 24 interactive humorous mysteries for elementary school exploring scientific problem solving in the context of different science subjects. Live-action video with actors, graphics, animations; photographs. TV video episodes, 1994, interactive videodisc, 1995, & CD-ROM, 1996. This series was developed in cooperation with Scholastic for their Science Place curriculum.
STS Forums - 12 interactive episodes for exploring science, technology and society for middle school. 1994 National Educational Film & Video Festival Silver Apple for Interactive Multimedia; 1994 Curriculum Product News "District Choice Award"; 1994 New Media Magazine "Invisions" at Comdex (finalist); 1994 Software Publisher's Association Critic's Choice (finalist)
Math Sleuths - 10 interactive humorous mystery stories for middle-school exploring mathematical problem solving in practical, scientific contexts. Live-action video with actors, graphics, animations, photographs. Videodisc, 1994.
Bioethics Forums - 12 interactive role-playing episodes for high school exploring bioethical dilemmas created by new advances in medical technology, with an emphasis on genetics. Students assume roles of characters with stakes in the issues and use videodisc to explore, research, and make multi-media presentations to argue their cases on subjects ranging from bone-marrow transplants to transgenic plants to DNA fingerprinting. Live-action video with actors, graphics, photographs. Videodisc 1995; CD-ROM, 1999.
Performance Based Assessment - 55 interactive activities that assess students’ problem solving skills in life, earth and physical science. The software produces a student profile for 50 skills that support the National Science Education Standards-Science as Inquiry objectives. Online distribution, 2000. Developed with support from the National Science Foundation.
Health Sleuths - 18 interactive humorous health mysteries on CD-ROM that engage students in process of problem solving and critical thinking. The fictitious episodes for elementary through high school grades introduce important health concepts and human biology. Students access video interviews, conduct medical tests, and examine photos, articles, charts, graphs, and more. Released on cd-rom, 2003.
Health Performance Assessment - Branching health scenarios with embedded questions. Released on cd-rom.

Creative Team

Shaun Taylor - executive producer, science lead
Mark Lutwak - director, producer, developer
Y York - lead scriptwriter

Frances Kenney, costume design
Jon Pray, Nashira Priester, Stephen Weihs, Bliss Kolb, sets & props
Jim Thompson, Paul Sharpe, videography, editing
Rachel Kramer, project manager
Jeff Dalto, Bret Fetzer, writers