Gamified E-learning in medical terminology: the TERMInator tool

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Learning
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Medical terminology proficiency is crucial for physician communication.
• German medical and dental students must complete a medical terminology course.
• Student prerequisites and learning objective achievement vary significantly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the "TERMInator," an interactive e-learning tool for medical terminology.
• To address individual learning needs and supplement traditional teaching methods.
• To assess student satisfaction and learning preferences with the new tool.

Main Methods:

• Development and pilot implementation of the "TERMInator" e-learning platform.
• Utilized gamification elements within the Moodle learning environment.
• Comprehensive evaluation through course feedback and anonymous questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The "TERMInator" received overwhelmingly positive student ratings.
• Students found the tool easy to use and a valuable supplement to seminars.
• While e-learning was valued, student tutorials were deemed most important; image quality received criticism.

Conclusions:

• Gamified e-learning tools can effectively support medical terminology education for diverse student groups.
• Addressing heterogeneous learning environments and varying student knowledge is key.
• The TERMInator shows promise for enhancing medical terminology instruction.