IBM is counting on a free multiplayer online game to help lure students to careers in engineering. A 3D virtual game, PowerUp challenges players to save the planet "Helios" from ecological disaster.
U.S. jobs in science, technology, engineering and math are projected to grow 22 percent through 2014. But U.S. grade school students continue to lag behind other developed countries in science and math.
"Innovation is the key to competitiveness in today's globally integrated economy, but just when we need it to skyrocket, interest in math and science has been declining in the United States," said Stanley S. Litow, VP of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs and President of IBM International Foundation. "American competitiveness demands more interest in math and science by students. Virtual worlds and 3D are an unexplored resource in education. We asked our best researchers to incorporate the use of this technology into traditional educational curriculum."
The game relies on student's interest in virtual fantasy worlds to teach them about engineering principles by letting them ride over rugged mountains in buggies to build solar towers or search through grim junk yards to repair wind turbines. They will also learn about energy conservation by the choices they make in completing their missions
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