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Unique Game-based Learning Platform for Nursing Education in India

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Unique Game-based Learning Platform for Nursing Education in India

June 07
10:35 2022
Serious games platform developed exclusively to support the new undergraduate nursing curriculum in India. Introducing FocusGamesIndia.com

A unique suite of serious online educational games to support teaching of the new competency-based BSc Nursing Curriculum. The first wave of 23 games has been published. They are mapped to the new curriculum to support the 1st semester. More games will be published as new semesters begin.

The games allow students to work in teams and help them to develop the conscious competence they need to work effectively during placements and post-qualification. They improve the uptake and retention of knowledge but most importantly they develop the confidence students need to practice safely.

Dr Vinay Kumari, Professor and Principal, Chitkara University College of Nursing commented:

“In the world of digitalisation where students are highly tech friendly it is imperative to design digitalised educational experiences to keep the learners’ attention focussed and aligned towards learning. The digital educational games keep the learners engaged and motivated to learn in an interesting and safe virtual space.”

The games are developed in collaboration with leading nursing professors from prestigious Nursing Colleges in India including:

  • M S Ramaiah Institute of Nursing Education & Research
  • Chitkara University College of Nursing
  • Aligarh Muslim University College of Nursing
  • Aaffinity College of Nursing
  • Gokulam Nursing College
  • Dr. Somervell Memorial CSI College of Nursing

Game-based Learning (GBL) is an effective pedagogical tool for connecting new generations of learners and equipping them with 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication and leadership. Research studies have validated the benefits of using serious games in education. Games are perfect resources for in-class group work, revision and assessment. They are fun with a serious purpose and clear educational outcomes.

The undergraduate nursing curriculum in India is shifting to a competency-based curriculum from 2022.   The clinical skill emphasis in the curriculum would make the programme even more attractive to students as global nurse recruiting healthcare organizations would increasingly recruit nurses trained in the new curriculum. The growing private healthcare and public healthcare systems in India also provide great opportunities for skilled nurse graduates to find employment within India.  Games will effectively support the students in India to develop employability skills which the hospitals and health systems are keenly looking for.

Dr Sheeja C V, Professor and Principal, Aaffinity College of Nursing, Bangalore commented that “Game-based Learning plays an important role in teaching by making students collaborate, communicate, interact and work in teams. The games are very simple to manage, allowing the facilitator to concentrate on encouraging and maintaining group discussions.”

About Focus Games:

Focus Games is a global leader in game-based learning in healthcare. Since 2004 they have developed over 100 games that make teaching in healthcare more effective and enjoyable. These games deal with a wide range of subjects. No external support or training is required, anyone can facilitate a game, including students.

Their games are content-rich, subject-specific, competency-focused and evidence-based. They are used by healthcare providers and universities across the world to make teaching and training more engaging and effective. The National Health Service (NHS UK) works closely with Focus Games to support training and education of the healthcare workforce. 

Melvin Bell Director and co-founder of Focus Games commented “The new BSc Nursing curriculum in India has provided an opportunity for us to collaborate with leading universities and academics to develop innovative game-based educational resources. We have a long-term strategy to support the healthcare sector in India. Many of the games we develop here will have a global appeal.”

www.FocusGamesIndia.com

www.FocusGames.com

Media contact: Joseph Tryble

Email: [email protected]

Phone/ WhatsApp: +91 958 226 8866

We are able to provide images for print and digital media on request. We can organise interviews with academic collaborators for media outlets. Contact Joseph Tryble in the first instance.

Background quotes from Nursing Faculties

  • Dr Sheeja C V, Professor and Principal, Aaffinity College of Nursing, Bangalore

“Game-based Learning plays an important role in teaching by making students collaborate, communicate, interact and work in teams. Strategic games improve the functioning of the brain. Gaming creates a dynamic that can inspire learners to develop skills and build an emotional connection to learning and the subject matter. The rapid changes and increased complexity of today’s world present new challenges and put new demands on our education system.

The revised BSc Nursing curriculum embraces competency-based and outcome-based approach throughout the program integrating mastery learning and self-directed learning. Knowledge acquisition related to wellness, health promotion, illness, disease management and care of the dying is core to nursing practice. Mastery of competencies is the main focus. Game-Based Learning has a four times higher likelihood of improving working and analytical skills. This is possible through games that promote the use of logical reasoning and critical thinking. Students who are provided with Game learning would be more competent in their clinical practice.

Generally, there is a growing awareness of the necessity to change and improve the preparation of Nursing students for productive functioning in the continually changing and highly demanding environment. Adaptation to individual differences under divergent teaching may be expected to be productive because of its emphasis on student autonomous, active, self-reliant learning. Curriculum teaching and learning extends well beyond the classroom and will continue to do so, and as education changes to suit the future needs of society, the role of a teacher must also adapt and grow. With game-based learning, students will be able to learn through repetition & failure till they accomplish their goals. Learning games are built the same way a teacher builds a lesson plan. The teacher can be facilitator to conduct the games and complete the lesson through games. All games can be easily moderated by faculty. The games are very simple to manage, allowing the facilitator to concentrate on encouraging and maintaining group discussions. The most important job for facilitator is to encourage players to talk to each other when they are presented with questions and answers. Then the players will continue to talk and enjoy themselves without much prompting. In a global survey conducted, it was found that 81% of students were more productive if their learning was more game-like.”

  • Dr Vinay Kumari, Professor and Principal, Chitkara University College of Nursing, India

“In the world of digitalisation where students are highly tech friendly and spend significant time internet surfing, it is imperative to design digitalised educational experiences to keep the learners’ attention focussed and aligned towards learning. The digitalised educational games keep the learners engaged and motivated to learn cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills in an interesting and safe virtual space. The instant personal feedback & self-paced content repetitions promote knowledge acquisition and comprehension. The teachers play an effective role in learning therefore, their role is paramount in enabling the digitalised gaming learning experience as a subject matter expert and the facilitator. The positive attitude of the teachers and their tech savvy credentials require the support of students and administrators in the designing of digitalised educational experiences through the games.”

  • Safeena Beevi, Associate Professor, College of Nursing, Aligarh Muslim University, India

“Digital Game-based methods of teaching have been widely applied in education institutions in the UK and USA for nursing students. But in India game-based learning or still in infancy stage for nursing students. Game based learning will make the complex information very simple and easy to grasp. Game based learning allows the nursing faculty to use it as an innovative technology and gaming in an interesting way to enhance the knowledge of students in nursing subjects. It will help faculty members to incorporate a new teaching method of game along with conventional methods of teaching to address the different needs of the nursing students. Many research studies supported the idea that game-based learning can improve cognitive abilities. Hence, game-based learning increases motivation and encourages nursing students to engage in the learning process in a very dedicated and stress-free way. So, game-based learning can be integrated in nursing curriculum in India.”

  • Dr G Balamurugan, HoD of Mental Health Nursing, M.S.Ramaiah Institute of Nursing Education and Research, India

How educational games can benefit nursing students in the new competency curriculum?

“The new competency curriculum emphasizes simulation-based learning. Educational games based on such simulation will create an interest among nursing students.”

How can it connect with a new generation of learners?

“The current z generation learners are tech-savvies and they very well prefer to engage in technology-based educational games rather than the traditional paper-pencil format.”

What support do teachers require to use games for nursing education?

“The teachers need to be sensitized about educational games and it should be easily accessible to them.”

Media Contact
Company Name: Focus Games Ltd
Contact Person: Joseph Tryble
Email: Send Email
Phone: +91 958 226 8866
City: Glasgow
Country: United Kingdom
Website: www.focusgamesindia.com