Effect of an educational game on university students’ learning about action potentials

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational game that is used for teaching the mechanisms of the action potentials in cell membranes. The game was composed of pieces representing the intracellular and extracellular environments, ions, ion channels, and the Na-K-ATPase pump. During the game activity, the students arranged the pieces to demonstrate how the ions move through the membrane in a resting state and during an action potential, linking the ion movement with a graph of the action potential. To test the effect of the game activity on student understanding, first-year dental students were given the game to play at different times in a series of classes teaching resting membrane potential and action potentials. In all experiments, students who played the game performed better in assessments. According to 98% of the students, the game supported the learning process. The data confirm the students' perception, indicating that the educational game improved their understanding about action potentials.

The Use of Educational Games to Explain Complex Concepts Related to Human Physiology

“…For example, understanding the ionic differences between the two sides of the biological cell membrane (inside and outside) is fundamental for understanding the action potential. In turn, the action potential is a key concept to understanding the synaptic communication [7,8]. But not only contents related to the nervous system can be teaching or reinforced by EG.…”

“…Marcondes, Moura (5), described a EG addressing the cardiac cycle [5]. Some of the physiological concepts are frequently abstract and so the students' visualization of practical application is impaired, what prejudice their learning [7,9,10].…”

“…The use of games generally involves team activities, fun, and other factors that promote a better learning [7,11].…”

Cardiovascular Interactions Tutorial: An Update

“…Recent publications in Advances in Physiology Education are concluding that new methods for teaching physiology are more effective than old ones if they get students actively involved [1]. Rothe's models and the Lab Book can be used either for classroom discussions or for self instruction.…”

Effect of an educational game on student´s learning: different approaches for evaluation

“…Educational games can be a complementary activity to lectures or replace them. While some authors reported that educational games improve students' learning (Rao and Dicarlo, 2001;Barclay et al, 2011;Choudhury et al, 2015;Luchi et al, 2017), others did not (McCarroll et al, 2009;Diehl et al, 2015).…”