While teaching body positions (supinate/ pronate) and directions (medial/ lateral) in radiology, I have each student write out the words to a line dance in medical directions. Once they have the words down, the entire class has to follow these directions and guess what line dance they are performing. After the correct dance is identified, I play the song and the whole class does the dance. Hilarious and educational all at the same time.
I have used a form of make me a match cards with pharmacy terminology highlighting key words of the definition as some definitions are quite lengthy. This makes it somewhat easier for the students to remember which term goes with which definition.
I too love the idea of having students come up with their own games. This could probably be made into a project idea as well. What are some of the best games they have come up with?
Thank you it's really fun!
Yes, though I can't take credit for it, it was called that in an older Chabner's instructors manual for her textbook, The Language of Medicine. I place vocabulary terms (or combining forms and suffixes) in each block, then call out the definitions.
Jody, have you always called it Lingo? I like that in comparison to bingo.
Michele Deck
I mainly use Jeopardy and Lingo (bingo) to review. I also encourage the students to use the review games that are included with their textbook's CD, along with a website that allows them to enter their vocabulary terms/definitions and it creates review games for them to use. At times I use a concept like the whole brain organizer, but not with the grid. I will have to try that next time.
Jacquie, I love this! Thank you for sharing your idea.
Michele Deck
In the past I created something called a "shift-off" and the students really enjoyed it. They were given a patient scenario and had to shift left or right according to a shift that occurs in our bodies to the left or the right. It was kind of like musical chairs and really fun!
The game I create the most is a Jeopardy game. I break the classroom up into 2 teams and have 1 leader from the team give the answer. The winning team at the end will receive extra credit on an upcoming examination. Students have responded well to this activity in the past.
Denise , yes, there is consensus among instructors that this is a successful strategy.
Michele Deck
I have use Jeopardy as a game to reinforce terminology, it seems to work well.
My students vary in age and seem to love any game show style approach. To add to the excitement I allow them to come dressed in business casual attire as if they were contestants on jeopardy. It helps to get them pumped up and I have found that how they are dressed also affects their confidence. The break from wearing scrubs is a bit of a reward as well.
Carmela, if the losers bring dessert, it sounds like everyone is really winning by learning and enjoying something sweet as well.
Michele Deck
I have used a variety of games where students need to integrate the new knowledge acquired in order to participate.
I created a terminology version of name that tune. We call it name that term or name the modifier. It gets the students up on their feet, it's fast paced, and it tests their knowledge. I keep a running score for the weeks we are in a specific anatomy and at the end of the course we tally up the scores for the teams. Losers have to bring dessert of some kind.
serena, thank you for sharing your "create a story" idea. It's great to hear your success stories!
Michele Deck
I have used a "koosh" ball to toss around for Q & A in other classes for a break in the rather routine review questions session. Can't wait to use it in Med Term. I also play HangMan. We also break into groups and draw body outlines and then make diagrams of the bodies. If it is nice outside we go outside with sidewalk chalk. Students seem to like that a lot! I also like them to write a sotry using med terms. They can write to story as a group )4 or 5 people). Results are humorous and cometimes very creative.
erin, once you adopt ball game type reviews, there are multiple ways to adapt this for review.
Michele Deck
As I've been going through these modules I am realizing I have used many of the activities in one form or another. I have done crosswords, matching, make a match, word searches, etc.. I really like the football and baseball games and look forward to implementing them. I also am going to try a new activity with a ball with variuos questions written on it to play catch a question.
