Linking Out Loud (LOL): Developing critical thinking.

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Medical Education Technology
• Gamification in Healthcare

Background:

• Critical thinking is essential for effective healthcare education and patient care.
• Gamification and play-based learning are increasingly recognized as valuable tools in health professions education.
• Developing rapid knowledge recall and clinical reasoning is crucial for student development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a modified card game, "Linking Out Loud," designed to enhance students' ability to recall and communicate clinical links.
• To assess the effectiveness of this gamified approach in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• To evaluate the potential for broad application of the game across different health disciplines.

Main Methods:

• A modified 'snap' card game was developed, featuring clinical images.
• Students participated by drawing two cards and rapidly articulating the connection between the depicted concepts.
• The game was implemented as a learning activity within a healthcare education setting.

Main Results:

• "Linking Out Loud" was positively received by students.
• The game demonstrated success in enhancing knowledge recall, critical thinking, and communication skills.
• Students showed improved ability in problem-solving through the game's interactive nature.

Conclusions:

• The "Linking Out Loud" game is an effective tool for developing critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving abilities in healthcare students.
• This gamified learning strategy can be readily adapted and implemented across various health disciplines.
• The study supports the integration of play-based learning and gamification in health professions education.