Integrating synapse, muscle contraction, and autonomic nervous system game: effect on learning and evaluation of students' opinions

Author(s)

Cardozo, Lais Tono ^[1] ; Castro, Amicio Pina ^[1] ; Guimaraes, Alexsandro Ferreira ^[2] ; Paula Gutierrez, Lucila Ludmila ^[2] ; Montrezor, Luis Henrique ^[3] ; Marcondes, Fernanda Klein ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Piracicaba Dent Sch, Dept Biosci, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Hlth Sci Porto Alegre, Dept Basic Hlth Sci, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[3] Univ Araraquara, Dept Biol Sci & Hlth Biotechnol & Med, Araraquara, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ADVANCES IN PHYSIOLOGY EDUCATION; v. 44, n. 2, p. 153-162, JUN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This work describes the educational game ``Integrating Synapse, Muscle Contraction, and Autonomic Nervous System,{''} which was developed to assist students in understanding and integrating concepts related to the physiology of synapses, muscle contraction, and the autonomic nervous system. Analysis was made of the effect of the game on learning and the students' opinions about it. Dentistry students were divided into control and game groups. They attended lectures about the topics, after which the control group students were submitted to a test, whereas the game group performed the game activity before undertaking the test. The mean score was significantly higher for the game group, compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Pharmacy students also attended lectures about these topics; in the next class, the students performed a pretest and the activity with the educational game. After the game, a posttest was applied. The mean scores were significantly higher for the posttest than for the pretest (P < 0.05). Students of medicine attended the lectures and performed the activity with the educational game. without the learning assessment. All of the students answered a question. using a 5-point Likert-type scale, concerning whether they thought the activity with the game was useful for learning. The mean scores obtained by the dentistry, pharmacy, and medicine students were 4.7 +/- 0.6, 4.9 +/- 0.3, and 4.3 +/- 0.1, respectively. The educational game increased the learning of the undergraduate students, in agreement with their opinions of the strategy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/25690-0 - Integrating the physiology of synapsis, muscle contraction and autonomic nervous system with an educational game: perception of students and effect on learning
• Grantee: Amicio Pina de Castro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation