Pest Detective - Story Based Learning for Kids

Review one of the web sites linked as examples of learning scenarios from the slides we used in class. Briefly critique the site. Are the elements of story all present? What are they? What might you change?

Pest Detective is a children's learning site created by the National Pest Management Association, Inc. It's a wonderfully graphic site that presents its material in a very simple, straightforward and fun manner that would be easily managed by kids in grades K-5.

Upon entering the site, you are presented immediately with the mission which involves taking on the cloak of a pest detective in determining how pests got involved in the situation and how the situation could be prevented from happening again. After the mission, you have a decision to make about which case to solve. I chose the "Case of the Gruesome Bite" which takes place in Seattle, Washington.

Taking the six elements of story into account, this site employs them all well, except for the element of emotion. Given that small omission, the site does a very good job of creating an interactive and engaging environment for children to learn more about pests. The elements as seen in this site are detailed below.

Setting
The setting is Jasmine Brown's basement in Seattle, Washington. The setting is depicted visually with graphics and with text that looks like notes taken in a detective's notebook.

Actors
Jasmine Brown, a child who lives in the house in Seattle, Washington. Three spiders, who are all suspects in the case. They are: Shy Girl, a brown recluse; Slash, a hobo house spider; and, Big-eyed Bob, a zebra jumping spider. All the actors speak to you, the learner and detective ;-). The audio is supplemented with text that displays in bold when it is being played, then grays after it completes. The audio is simple and can be replayed.

Mission
The mission is presented, as indicated earlier, at the very beginning of the story and is repeated with more specifics after one of the cases is selected by you, the learner. For example, when the particular case is chosen, the mission is displayed as an assignment and you are presented with clues and information; and an opportunity to listen to the victim and the suspects; then, you have to answer questions to determine which spider bit the victim.

Plot
The plot concerns Jasmine receiving some sort of bite down in the basement, but she doesn't remember receiving it because it didn't hurt. She also mentions that she didn't see any spiders and that her Mom had sprayed for bugs a couple of weeks prior. The plot is introduced as a short vignette that Jasmine's recounts. She explains her actions prior to being bit while you watch it play out and then, you get an opportunity to click on objects within the basement to gather clues.

Conflict/Resolution
The conflict/resolution involves the information you receive from the actors and your mission to solve the mystery of the bite. The first conflict involves the incongruity presented by Jasmine regarding her bite. She remembers something touching her hand, but it didn't hurt and she explains that she didn't see any spiders because her Mom had sprayed for bugs. There is also conflicting information given by the individual spiders, as you learn more about their habitats and their habits.

Emotion
As mentioned earlier, the only story element that is not fully realized in this great site is emotion. This particular element could be played up much more in the story. Jasmine is presented as a pretty tough kid who doesn't even seem upset or even really curious about the open wound that has developed on her finger. I found this a bit surprising. I think most kids would be pretty interested in what was going on with the wound and how it got there. This one point, however, is the only negative criticism I have for the otherwise entertaining site.