For Your Health
For Your Health

News from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences

Van Eck to discuss game-based learning in medical education at next EBTG meeting on Dec. 4

vaneckAll are invited to attend the next Evidence-Based Teaching Group (EBTG) meeting as Dr. Richard Van Eck, Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning, presents “What Can Game-Based Learning Teach Us About Medical Education?” at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in room W201 of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences. The event will also be recorded for later viewing.

We all know that health care is changing rapidly and that the pace of this change will only accelerate. What is less clear is how health care education must change to produce professionals who can function in the present health care system, adapt as it continues to change, and serve as the architects of the health care system of the future. We must teach our future physicians to be able to solve a wide range of problems; to see failure as an opportunity and, as a result, become resilient “gritty” practitioners; to set short- and long-term personal and professional goals; to be aware of their strengths, weaknesses, and abilities; and to be compassionate and empathetic, all while integrating technologies that have not yet been invented and working with people and cultures with whom they are unfamiliar. Outcomes like these make it clear that we require a fundamental shift in our conceptualization of what “curriculum” is. While it might seem strange to suggest that videogames, something often seen as play, can be an important guide in this process, this talk will argue that videogames and the principles they employ will help us meet these challenges.

The Evidence-Based Teaching Group (EBTG) hosts workshops and discussions based on topics determined by the expressed interests of its members. Membership and participation in the EBTG and events are free and open to anyone on campus—no RSVP needed.

The EBTG meets the first Tuesday of every month in SMHS W201. Past topics have included assessment, online learning, precepting, active learning, simulation, ADA compliance, educational scholarship, to name a few. Many of the past events can be streamed from our website: https://med.und.edu/education-resources/evidence-teaching-group.html

If you are interested in anything related to evidence-based teaching, join us! If you have any questions, would like more information, or would like to suggest (or lead!) a future meeting topic, please contact Adrienne Salentiny at adrienne.salentiny@med.und.edu.