title: The Effectiveness of an Educational Game for Teaching Optometry Students Basic and Applied Science.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of an educational board game with interactive didactic instruction for teaching optometry students elements of the core optometric curriculum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two optometry students were divided into two GPA-matched groups and assigned to either 12 hours of game play (game group) or 12 hours of interactive didactic instruction (lecture group). The same material from the core optometric curriculum was delivered to both groups. Game play was accomplished via an original board game. Written examinations assessed change in knowledge level. A post-intervention opinion survey assessed student attitudes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in pre- or post-intervention test scores between the lecture and game groups (Pre-test: p = 0.9; Post-test: p = 0.5). Post-intervention test scores increased significantly from baseline (Game group: 29.3% gain, Didactic group: 31.5% gain; p<0.001 for each). The score increase difference between groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.6). The post-intervention attitude survey did not reveal any significant between group differences (p = 0.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that an educational game and interactive didactic instruction can be equally effective in teaching optometry students basic and applied science. Furthermore, both modes of instruction have the potential to be equally engaging and enjoyable experiences.
authors.affiliation: Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trevino
authors.affiliation: Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Majcher
authors.affiliation: Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rabin
authors.affiliation: Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.affiliation: Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.affiliation: Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wingert
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D000068957:Games, Recreational / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009907:Optometry / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires