Pest Private Eye and the Case of IPM in Schools - PCGameTrek.com
From the University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL) Extension comes an educational video game, Pest Private Eye and the Case of IPM in Schools, that teaches about pests, such as insects and rodents, and how to control them using a technique called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM uses many methods, including sanitation (keeping things clean), mechanical controls (fly swatters or traps), exclusion (sealing holes or fixing leaks), moisture control, biological controls (predators), and chemical controls (pesticides) to get rid of pests. Pest management in schools has traditionally involved spraying unnecessary pesticides around the school, even if pests weren’t seen.
IPM, on the other hand, aims to identify what pests are present and uses many non-toxic methods first to control pests before considering pesticides. If pesticides are still necessary, lower toxic ones are chosen to help improve the health and safety of children and staff and to protect the environment.
In Pest Private Eye and the case of IPM in Schools, the player assumes the role of IPM Detective Pest PI, who visits the virtual Eureka Elementary School, talks with school administration, staff, students, and a pest management professional (exterminator), and collects tools to get rid of the pests around the school. Other than in a few cut scenes, the pc game is presented from a first person point of view, helping the player feel more immersed in the experience.
One concept Pest Private Eye PC Game really emphasizes is the importance of identifying a pest before implementing a control method. If a player automatically tries to use a tool without first learning what the pest is, Pest PI says “I need a closer look,” signaling that identification is necessary. This drives the message home of the importance of identification when addressing a real life pest because in IPM, this concept is essential in determining what control methods will work best to kill that pest.
Pest Private Eye PC Game 2010 has many interesting features to engage the player. It offers over a dozen rooms to explore, informative dialog, puzzles to solve, and a cell phone “hint” option. Some rooms take a second to fully render, but once they do, graphics are clear and well defined. Fun, anime inspired characters complete the look. Sound quality is excellent with good voice work and optional closed captioning. The music creates the desired “detective” atmosphere with a mixture of everything from old 60’s spy themes to Agatha Christiesque strings.
Navigation is overall straightforward. A toolbar at the bottom of the page includes icons for sound adjustment, saving/loading, inventory items, a pest ID book, a map of the school, and the cell phone. Occasionally you will have to roll the mouse over icons more than once as they disappear easily if you move the mouse too far, especially when opening the map, but once you get a feel for how this works, it’s easy to maneuver.
Pest Private Eye and the Case of IPM in Schools is meant to be educational, and it succeeds in providing valuable information to its intended 4th-6th grade target audience while still offering the entertainment and challenge of other point and click or hidden object games. This pc game is recommended for anyone with an interest in the natural and environmental sciences, especially in pests and pest management.
UNL Extension has also created two Pest Private Eye Video Game supplemental materials. A teacher’s guide, complete with activities for the classroom, enables teachers to expand upon the game by teaching more about IPM, perhaps in a science curriculum. Activities align with Nebraska and National Science Standards. A comic book using characters from the game is also available. The Pest Private Eye website, http://schoolipm.unl.edu/pestpi, links to a free demo, online versions of the teacher’s guide and comic book, and resources about pests and IPM. Users can also buy the full game from a link on this site.







47 Comments
I like this review and also played the game for about 20 minutes. I think all pc gaming websites should write about these kind of games as corporate social responsibility.
The games, both globally and particularly (video games) are educational tools because they contain and transmit values. Often, the lack of information causes feelings of fear and alarm from seeing the educational function of some kind of game. Let’s look at some educational functions of video games:
• Transmit content and values.
• Acquire skills related to the digital world: more skill and safety.
• Develop activities as overcoming and self-esteem.
• Learning to share with colleagues.
• Get involved, make decisions and implement actions.
• Enhancing psychomotor skills.
• Acquiring new knowledge.
• Learn to self-restraint and self-control.
• Working fantasy.
• Encourage coordination between the hand-eye
Types and effects
Video games are not all alike, vary the base or platform of the game and the theme. They can be seen from a console game to a computer game or mobile phone. The theme of the game is also very varied: historical, fantasy, sports activities. You can describe certain types of play according to this classification:
Making good use of video games
When choosing a video game for our children is very important to understand what your tastes and interests, but also what the label says on the video game content. Not all are suitable for all ages. The difficulties of the game also vary depending on the product and there are both adults and minors.
One way to work with video games positive values is to learn to make responsible use, without excess, to enjoy while playing. To achieve this, requires adults to manage the playing time. A good way is agreed with the children. We need to realize the time they spend playing, you feel part of the covenants we make with them about the use of video games and they realize that playing at home is as much or more fun than being alone in front of a screen.
Therefore, it is also a good idea to play games that allow more than one person at a time and playing with the family. The family moments can make the game so that young children learn to manage their autonomy and access to such games. And when his teammates do not we, we are concerned to know who they are.
The best places to play videogames are those who favor the relationship between people and where there is adequate distance between the player and the screen. One way, then, to make a sharing, to meet the tastes of our children and show an interest in everything around them is to put the game in a common area of the house: the dining room, study room, of games and conversation …
In conclusion, video games are educational tools if you make a good use and if those responsible for the users are in control. It should be a good choice, reach the moments of the game, find the most suitable place to play, spending time playing with children and be clear about the positive values we want to communicate through play.
I am playing the game, and learning about pests and pesticides I finished the first room, how can I go to the next room? I choose another room from the map but it did not work?
i kinda like the flow of this game Pest Private Eye PC Game because i used to like spy games like Carmen Sandiego.
This game is very nice its applicable to all ages as long as know how to use computer.
i read the reiview and i tried it also which is good and fun game.i may get addicted to this. its really interesting brain game for educational gamers.
Hi everyone,
Thank you for all the thoughtful comments! I hope that you have enjoyed the game and learned more about pests and IPM in the process
William, in answer to your question, it looks like you must have just played the demo. In that, there are only two rooms available, but you are also able to purchase the full game from the Pest PI website either as a CD or download.
If anyone has any questions about the game, feel free to email me direction at ebauer2@unl.edu
I am playing the game, and learning about pests and pesticides I finished the first room, how can I go to the next room? I choose another room from the map but it did not work?
Seems like a good game but it will be appropriate if the ones who play this game is my little brother. Well, this is an education game, right?
nice information
Really this post about Pest Private Eye is very good. I played this game after reading this article. I felt better when I was playing.
This game looks interesting and fun to play. I may try this one day if I have more time to do it.
the graphics and the snapshots of the pest private pc game are really marvellous to watch
Pesticides or chemicals are chemicals designed to kill, repel, attract, regulate or stop the growth of living things… I think this good game from your review. I will try for playing this game and I think all pc gaming websites should write about these kind of games as corporate social responsibility. Pest Private Eye Great Subject for MY Dissertation!
Now a days I am playing this game, and learning & knowing about pests and pesticides. I am enjoying this game now.
i think thatz is so nice game. Chemical pesticides. Groups or families of pesticides and the damage they cause to people,…sand in the battle to save the environment and human health. Changes in the Philosophy of companies in the world.
this game will help the children to be good scientest at future & they will be geniouis too
The gameplay is very interesting and very educate game.
there are so many games which are related to good educational view. Hope this game will fulfill the purpose too.
Pest Private Eye is an educational video game, that teaches about pests, such as insects and rodents, and how to control them using a technique called Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
I liked this game very much, nice game for kids
i think thatz is so nice game. Chemical pesticides. Groups or families of pesticides and the damage they cause to people,…sand in the battle to save the environment and human health.
Graphics is not up to the level. I think if we wish this to be useful the game should be prefered istead of other pc games. Otherwise children will find this game boring although it is a game…
This is what I think sorry
is there any free games which we download and play the games when we are free.
Nice game! Thanks for the good article about this game. Keep up the good work!
the Pest Private Eye is one of the educational video game, that teaches about pests, such as insects and rodents, and how to control them using a technique called Integrated Pest Managemen system. thanks for sharing
It really took some time for me to understand this “Pest Private Eye ” and then it was fun playing this game
I just came across on this kind of game and after reading the review, it is pretty interesting. Pest Private Eye game looks fun to play.
It seems to be an great game and i am expecting these kind of categories to get use of it.
wow it is nice game dude
for me this is really a good game to play.
well I love games that really made me think.
this game is also good for kids.
it is nice game.it is really enjoyable.
I love the game, I learned about pests and pesticides.Good review, thanks
pc gaming websites should write about these kind of games as corporate social responsibility.because these games help you in real world also , i liked it very much.
i think thats is nice game. Groups or families of pesticides and the damage they cause to people,…sand in the battle to save the environment and human health.
Pest Private Eye is very informative and educational game.I daily play this unique game.
I have been playing this game since I was a kid. I enjoyed solving puzzles. Though a there are a lot of hard puzzles to solve I still enjoyed it.
love this game. uni guys have done a great job. I ve installed this one on my uni computer as well.. soo cool!! nice info by the way. mmmmm
This his very good game … And it is pretty interesting.
Really a nice game!!! Real life situation of teaching is expose by this game excellently. Fantastic stuffs!!!
i play this game
this looks interesting to me….will try this definitely.
Interesting take on the whole thing. Very funny
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