Professor creates 'Pizza
Explorer' game
By Matt Lindner
Staff
Writer
Purdue food science professor Bruce Watkins observed
that learning about chemistry and biology wasn't necessarily the most
appealing thing to students enrolled in middle school and high school.
"With all of the options available to children
these days, nobody wants to sit in front of a textbook and read about
polymers and chemical compounds," said Watkins. "With this project,
I took something that kids of that age can relate to and enjoy and put
it into an educational format where they can learn more about food chemistry
and be entertained at the same time."
So, with some help from his wife, Cynthia, he developed
"The Pizza Explorer," which teaches students about a variety of different
subjects, ranging from history to engineering, all related in some way
to pizza.
A gray-haired, mustached cartoon character named
Peter Oliver Pizarro, also known as P.O.P., guides "The Pizza Explorer."
"Explorer" also features P.O.P.'s nemesis, Azzip, who resembles the
Road Runner from Looney Tunes.
Watkins was partly inspired for this project by
watching his three children advance through middle and high school.
"I'd like for students to think of science and
engineering as real careers that they would enjoy pursuing because so
many fall through the cracks simply because the material does not appeal
to them," said Watkins. "If I can get one kid to consider pursuing a
career in one of those fields, then all of the research that I did will
have been worth it."
Many teachers have had trouble in the past getting
their students motivated to learn about science and chemistry. To help
combat this, Watkins developed a CD-ROM that features many colorful
animations and games to keep their attention. The accompanying book
serves as a guide to the program and also features experiments that
students can do in their own home or in the classroom.
Watkins is also working on another CD-ROM which
will be geared toward college students, called Functional Foods. This
new project is designed to help college students learn more about food
chemistry. Watkins plans on using this new program to help teach one
of his classes, Food Studies 476, "Functional Foods."
"Starting in the spring semester of 2002, my FS
476 class will be using a Web-based or a CD-ROM version of this program
to help learn more about food chemistry," said Watkins. "I feel as though
by using something other than a textbook to teach this material, the
students will be better able to learn and comprehend the material."
The Institute for Food Technologists helped to
fund Watkins' brainchild and Purdue has copyrighted the program. In
addition to the CD-ROM, there is a booklet that accompanies it, which
was written by Watkins's wife, Cynthia, who is a licensed schoolteacher.
When writing the book that accompanies the CD-ROM,
Cynthia wanted to make the product one that was easy to implement in
the classroom.
"We tried to ensure that the substances used in
the experiments were readily available in most grocery stores so that
teachers could use it in class to help enhance the learning experience,"
Cynthia said.
In addition to the valuable chemistry and biology
lessons "The Pizza Explorer" provides, it also teaches study skills
and is fun for the whole family.
"Once a student knows whether they are right or
left brained, they will be better able to manage their time and study
accordingly," said Watkins. "Also, there are a number of games incorporated
into the program as well. Parents can learn with their children about
the interesting world of pizza and food chemistry."
A full version of "The Pizza Explorer" is available
on the Center for Enhancing Foods to Protect Health's Web site at www.efph.purdue.edu
for those who want to learn more about the product.
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