Aiming to make learning science fun and engaging for students, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has introduced a free educational computer game called "Immune Attack."

The program is part of a strategy that capitalizes on the huge popularity of gaming to get kids interested in science. FAS first previewed "Immune Attack" at a summit on video gaming in education three years ago (see "Educators take serious look at video gaming"). Participants, who ranged from cognitive scientists for the military to entertainment game producers from Hollywood, discussed the pedagogical value of gaming technology as a teaching tool.

"Immune Attack" is a three-dimensional game that provides scientifically accurate simulations of the immune system, with imagery designed by medical illustrators. The game features conferencing and auto-tutoring technology meant to personalize the gaming and learning experience with content-rich sessions. It also contains a built-in assessment feature, through which users must answer questions to move on to the next level.

Players navigate a nanobot through 3-D blood vessels and connective tissue in an attempt to save an ailing patient by retraining her non-functional immune cells. The game was designed by immunologists, teachers, and learning scientists from institutions such as Brown University, the University of Southern California, and Escape Hatch Entertainment.

Henry Kelly, FAS president, said his organization chose to focus on the immune system because it is part of a biology course taken by most high school students--and teachers have told FAS that the concepts are often difficult for students to master.

"It's also not hard for students to [relate] what they've learned about the immune system with the diseases and treatment that they and their family have experienced," Kelly added. "We felt the subject lent itself perfectly to an attempt to use game technology to convey sophisticated knowledge while retaining interest in the phenomena."

Some educators might think gaming is more entertainment than a learning tool, but that doesn't have to be the case, Kelly said. He believes the word "game" can create misunderstanding, because it covers such a broad range of concepts.

To make an educational game more than just "edutainment," Kelly said it should be based on meeting challenges that are authentically interesting to students; should move forward to new challenges at a rate tailored to ensure that each individual is neither bored nor frustrated; and can provide learners with the information, tutoring, and counseling they need as they face new challenges. And that's the approach FAS has taken with "Immune Attack," which has undergone months of testing in schools.