Learning Effects of Cross Road Game Using a Clicker-Nano System

Abstract

Introduction:

There are some tools for teaching disaster countermeasure in Japan. Cross Road Game was developed to get a concrete image of a disaster situation and is based on interviews from Kobe city government officers in an area affected by the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The alternative includes a lot of ‘dilemmas’ that sacrifice something based on whichever outcome is chosen. For example, “There are 2000 meals at the evacuation center with 3000 refugees. Do you distribute these foods or not?” This game was developed for five to seven players, however, it is not suitable for class lessons with a hundred students. Thus, we tried to employ the Clicker-Nano system for an interactive lesson.

Aim:

To provide a brief introduction to this new style of teaching disaster countermeasure.

Methods:

The study included involved a classroom discussion using Clickers-Nano system in addition to Cross Road Game.

Results:

Nursing students could learn the concrete details of disaster countermeasure in an enjoyable format. They could share thoughts and compare opinions while deciding how to resolve the dilemma at the time of disaster.

Discussion:

The most important issue faced was how to develop an educational effect for nursing students. Even if five or seven students (players) could enjoy the game, it would not lead to the accumulation of unified knowledge of disaster countermeasure compared to a lecture at the university. The use of the Clickers-Nano system avoided differences in the reach of learning due to differences of facilitators’ capabilities. This study suggests a new style that combines interactive discussion not only with small but also large numbers of students.