Keep Your Audience Awake! Interactive Game Challenges Understanding While Disseminating Research Results

One reason I really enjoy my job is the opportunity to stay on top of the latest research. My fascination with how people learn and teach began in graduate school and continues today. Many of my colleagues and clients are less inclined to pour over research articles but would benefit from the knowledge. Unfortunately few researchers have the opportunity or inclination to disseminate their work in an engaging and educational manner. Not so the Science Education Department at Harvard’s Center for Astrophysics.

Factors Influencing College Science Success (FICSS) was designed by the SED “to identify measurable factors in high school science classes that predict different levels of achievement in introductory college science courses”. Chances are that the results of similar research are gathering dust on a library shelf. Not FICSS results. Rather than ensure only a few academics learned the FICSS outcomes, the SED staff developed an interactive game to engage their audience and disseminate the results of this study. Once again, SED demonstrates the ability to walk the walk.

FICSS players have their understanding and assumptions about learning and teaching science challenged by the interactive game. Players build a team of advisers from a pool of students, secondary, and post secondary instructors. Using the advice from teammates, shared via short video clips, players are challenged to answer questions about factors that influence success in college science education. Right answers win you virtual cash. The more teammates you poll for advice, the more cash you can win.

The game is engaging and instructional. Not only do you learn the results of the FICSS research, you virtually engage with teammates each of who personalizes their experience of teaching and learning science. If you enjoyed watching the video, A Private Universe, you will enjoy taking the FICSS challenge.