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The EcoCasting Project is a set of hands-on inquiry activities focused on ecosystems, food webs, bioaccumulation, and invasive species designed for use in environmental science and biology classes in grades 9-12. The curriculum is aligned to Illinois state standards, the College Readiness Standards, and the National Science Education Standards. It addresses the following objectives:   *  Using ecological models to investigate food web complexity   *  Investigating PCB toxins and how they move through an ecosystem   *  Investigating invasive species and how they disrupt ecosystems and change bioaccumulation patterns

"The goal of the EcoMUVE project is to help students develop a deeper understanding of ecosystems and causal patterns with a curriculum that uses Multi‐User Virtual Environments (MUVEs). MUVEs are 3‐D virtual worlds that have a look and feel similar to videogames. They are accessed via computers and, in our case, recreate authentic ecological settings within which students explore and collect information. Students work individually at their computers and collaborate in teams within the virtual world. The immersive interface allows students to learn science by exploring and solving problems in realistic environments."

This arcade is a portal to games and interactive activities focused on ocean and air themes. It highlights the science and the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other agencies and organizations promoting environmental stewardship. WaterLife: Where Rivers Meet the Sea This serious game is based on the ecosystem of a United States west coast estuary and follows a human, Valerie, as she encounters Oscar the sea otter, and the Claminator, a geoduck clam. The friends are challenged to learn about the factors that produce healthy estuaries, food webs, and why estuaries are essential to ocean life and to humans.

"Education and political leaders in countries around the world have recognized the imperative to prepare their youth for the 21st century, a goal that many believe requires the fundamental transformation of educational opportunities together with the integration of technology into teaching and learning. But educational change is complex. It takes place within an ecosystem of influences that range from national policies, programs, and supports to local community contexts and school-specific professional cultures. As part of Microsoft's commitment to education transformation, its Partners in Learning Program initiated the Innovative Teaching and Learning (ITL) Research project to contribute information and policy insights on where and how effective education transformation is taking place around the world."