In the near future, a corrupt corporation is trying to take over the world. As part of its nefarious plot, Conspiracy Inc. is altering the historic record.

High school students can stop the evil plans -- and earn an American history credit -- in Conspiracy Code, a new online course that takes place as a game.

The course is available through Florida Virtual School, an Internet-based public school that offers more than 90 courses.

Teacher David Wilson, who describes his role as ``an underground handler,'' said the game appeals to many students who wouldn't normally enjoy the subject.

The course, new this year, is project-based instead of test-heavy, although there are mid-term and final exams.

Students start off with an introduction to a woman at Collusion Café. She's a persuasive conspiracy theorist who enlists help to stop the bad guys.

The characters representing the student -- Eddie Flash and Libby Whitetree -- go through missions in which they gain powers and collect clues. Students keep notes in a ``conspiracy log'' and play mini games to reinforce what they've learned. The clues contain the lessons in the form of videos, maps, interactive timelines and personal stories from history.

Wilson said students tend to be drawn to ideas of conspiracy, codes and secrecy, especially in an era of Dan Brown thrillers and movies like National Treasure.

``What we've found is that students are attracted to that questioning of history. They want to know what to trust and how to get to the bottom of who's telling you the truth,'' Wilson said. ``What we try to do is we try to give them the skills that are necessary to put on the hat of a historian, to read the first-person accounts of history, to take a look at what the people who were there wrote about it.''

Andy Ross, marketing officer for Florida Virtual School, said the course took a few years to make, from planning to building with educational game developer 360Ed.

American history is just the first subject the school will offer as a game; about 10 more are expected, including world history, geography, reading and history for middle school students.

About 350 students are taking the course.

Said Ross: ``It's an adventure for them.''

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