Sea Monsters 3D: A Large-format Film and Outreach Program

国家地理电视台正在制作一部关于史前海洋爬行动物的大型3D电影《海怪》。 该项目还将包括形成性评价和总结性评价、供家庭、课后和课堂使用的教材、教育工作者的专业发展、互动网站和针对得不到充分服务的青年的创新性外联活动。 这部电影将介绍目前对中生代海洋生态系统的科学认识以及史前海洋爬行动物的生物学和行为。 电影的故事情节将古生物学发现置于历史背景中，并揭示了许多关于科学方法和调查过程的信息。 在古生物学实景序列和爬行动物照片逼真的3D动画之间进行创新性的交互切割，将使化石栩栩如生，并使观众能够在发现的遗骸和爬行动物的活动之间建立联系，所有这些都是由化石记录中的具体证据驱动的。 海洋怪兽将通过使用开创性的计算机生成图像技术对非正式科学教育领域产生战略影响，并通过展示强大，戏剧性的故事情节是传达科学概念的强大而有效的方法。 以标准为基础的课堂教学计划和非正式的家庭活动指南将扩大电影的影响。 国家地理与领先的科学专家和正式和非正式教育专家合作，为该项目提供信息和建议。 多媒体研究和骑士威廉姆斯研究通信，分别将进行形成性和总结性研究。

National Geographic Television is producing a large-format, 3D film, "Sea Monsters," about prehistoric marine reptiles. The project will also include formative and summative evaluations, educational materials for home, after-school and classroom use, professional development for educators, an interactive website and innovative outreach to underserved youth. The film will present the current scientific understanding of Mesozoic marine ecosystems and the biology and behavior of prehistoric marine reptiles. The storyline of the films sets paleontological discovery into historical context, and reveals much about the scientific method and process of inquiry. Innovative intercutting between live-action paleontology sequences and photo realistic 3D animation of the reptiles will bring the fossils to life and allow audiences to make connections between the remains that are uncovered and the reptiles' activities, all of which are driven by concrete evidence in the fossil record. Sea Monsters will have a strategic impact on the field of informal science education by using groundbreaking computer-generated imagery technologies, and by demonstrating that a strong, dramatic storyline is a powerful and effective method for communicating scientific concepts. Standards-based lesson plans for the classroom and informal activity guides for families will augment the impact of the film. National Geographic has teamed with leading scientific experts and formal and informal education specialists to inform and advise the project. Multimedia Research and Knight-Williams Research Communication, respectively, will conduct formative and summative research.