Teaching Cardiovascular Physiology with a Minigame-Based ITS

Reva Freedman, Lucas Edwards, Ian Sullivan, Annalise Brockmann, Dean Labarbera, Virginia Naples

Abstract: This paper describes the use of minigames to teach cardiovascular physiology in the CRAM system. We describe two new intermediate-level games we have written to improve the teaching of the physiology of the heart and lung to advanced undergraduates. Each of these games builds on the knowledge students have acquired in an elementary game and teaches new material using a higher level of Bloom’s taxonomy. We also describe a third game where students simulate a medical procedure and the taxonomy behind the games. The purpose of these games is to improve motivation by making the games fun while at the same time improving student learning by reducing cognitive load. The games have been designed with reusable design and gamification elements for efficiently expanding the system to other topics. Our goal is to increase student success by teaching higher-level concepts and increasing time on task while reducing student frustration.