Gaming: a technique that adds spice to learning?

Gaming, as a teaching strategy, offers a unique method of reinforcing facts and allows for acquisition of knowledge and process skills. Gaming facilitates problem solving, and sometimes critical thinking, and can monitor results of the learners' actions. Gaming also allows students to challenge the thinking and hypotheses of others. This article, designed for all nurse educators, reviews the advantages and disadvantages of certain gaming techniques. These ideas are obtained from surveying the literature for game ideas that have been developed over the last 15 years.