17 Sep 2012
5/6 M and Murder under the Microscope is Australia's largest online environmental game
Students in 5/6M have been working this term on Murder Under the Microscope
Is a joint initiative of the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources and the Open Training and Education network . It involves student detective groups investigating potential environmental "victims", "villains" and "crime sites" over a three-week period each year via the latest technology. Clues are beamed into the classroom via SBS TV and Internet Broadcasts.
The first part of the competition culminates in teams posting an accusation on the web site following the final day's broadcast. The first school to identify the environmental villain is the winner.
The second part of the competition entails groups submitting a catchment management plan to address the problems raised by the scenario. Groups are judged in two categories: primary and secondary. The plans must be submitted in an A4 written form but may be supplemented with other materials including pictures, maps, graphs, board games, web sites, videos, role-play, songs, and poems. The winners in both the primary and secondary categories are the Murder Under the Microscope Eco Planners.
Schools must register to be part of the competition and are provided with a badge ID that serves as a password to participate in the game. The game is held in term two every year. Teachers are provided with a handbook that outlines the rules and details the game.
Over 1800 school groups across Australia registered for Murder Under the Microscope. Registrations have increased every year and the same groups keep on coming back.
Murder under the Microscope is Australia's largest online environmental game. It is suitable for school students in years 5 to 10, typically aged 9 to 14 years.