RELM: Developing a Serious Game to Teach Evidence-Based Medicine in an Academic Health Sciences Setting

Abstract

Gaming as a means of delivering online education continues to gain in popularity. Online games provide an engaging and enjoyable way of learning. Gaming is especially appropriate for case-based teaching, and provides a conducive environment for adult independent learning. With funding from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region (NN/LM PNR), the University of Washington (UW) Health Sciences Library, and the UW School of Medicine are collaborating to create an interactive, self-paced online game that teaches players to employ the steps in practicing evidence-based medicine. The game encourages life-long learning and literacy skills and could be used for providing continuing medical education.

KEYWORDS:

• Academic health sciences libraries
• evidence-based medicine
• gaming
• library education
• medical education
• serious games

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would like to acknowledge other key people who have contributed to envisioning and building the RELM game, including Sherry Dodson, Tania Bardyn, Julianne McNalley, Michael Campion, Adam Garrett, Brandon Turner, and Liz Pulanco.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ann Whitney Gleason

Ann Whitney Gleason, MLIS ([email protected]) is Head of the Health Sciences Library, Stony Brook University, Health Sciences Tower, Level 3, Room 142, Stony Brook, NY 11994. At the time this article was written, the author was Associate Director for Resources and Systems, University of Washington Health Sciences Library.