Science Sleuths

Science Sleuths is 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 and Winston. Videodiscovery and its intellectual property was purchased by Discovery Education in 2005.

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• 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.