A new computer game teaching science concepts will be piloted in rural eastern North Carolina middle schools for the 2011-12 school year.

In development under a partnership between East Carolina and N.C. State universities, Crystal Island is a learning adventure game for middle grades in which students solve a science mystery as they learn about microbiology.

The Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education at ECU and the IntelliMedia Group at N.C. State together qualified for a $500,000 grant from Next Generation Learning Challenges, a national program with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award was announced in June, and work officially began July 1. The grant will cover final development and distribution of the game as well as teacher training and support.

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