Using Digital Game Based Resources to Engage Students in First Year Human Life Sciences

Abstract

The School of Human Life Sciences (HLS) at the University of Tasmania teaches a diverse student population enrolled in biomedical science, environmental health, exercise science, health science, and medical imaging. All of these HLS students study common first year units including cell biology, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology, and are characterised by a range of different learning styles. In recognition of the diverse needs of our first year student population, we have developed and implemented a number of self-directed learning resources in our first year units including digital game based learning (DGBL) resources. These DGBL resources include both multiplayer and single player games to engage students in unit content and enable them to link concepts between foundation units in the first year curriculum. Student feedback from open and closed questionnaires indicates that students enjoy playing online games to stimulate their learning and are able to transfer knowledge between first year units after using the game platform learning resources. The games also allow students to participate in active learning in a fun and stimulating learning environment. We believe that DGBL resources are a vital pedagogical tool in our portfolio of teaching and learning resources for first year HLS students.