Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Bâtiment B43 Dpt. de gestion vétérinaire des Ressources Animales (DRA), Quartier Vallée 2, avenue de Cureghem 6, 4000 Liège 1, Belgium.
Jointly affiliated with the University of Montréal School of Public Health, Canada and the University of Liège, Belgium.
J Vet Med Educ. 2024 Aug;51(4):536-546. doi: 10.3138/jvme-2023-0048. Epub 2023 Aug 24.
Effective decision-making within veterinary practice demands a comprehensive understanding of interconnected animal, public, and environmental health systems. To foster systems thinking, participatory modeling and serious games are gaining prominence. Serious games combine play, instruction, and problem-based learning to facilitate skill acquisition. This study investigates the potential of a multiplayer serious game framework as a participatory method to cultivate systems thinking skills in a Master of Veterinary Medicine program. The research focuses on the Territory Game, designed to encourage engagement and creativity, assessing its role in fostering systems thinking among veterinary students. Integrated into a master's course, the game immerses students in complex decision-making scenarios, aiding their navigation of real-world intricacies. Qualitative analysis of discussions and responses provides insights. Results indicate that serious game-based learning within a participatory structure enhances participants' grasp of decision-making complexities. The game's simulated environment promotes a broader perspective and consideration of diverse factors in choices. Additionally, the game framework exhibits potential to enhance group participation, autonomy, time management, and inclusivity for reserved individuals. However, the study acknowledges that teaching methods like participatory modeling might not universally fit all contexts and could require instructor support. The framework's effectiveness is influenced by educational constraints, engagement levels, learning styles, and expertise. Nonetheless, the Territory Game framework shows promise in deepening understanding of complex veterinary decisions and fostering critical systems thinking skills essential for effective decision-making. Future research should explore its adaptability, scalability, and long-term impact across diverse educational settings.
兽医实践中的有效决策需要全面理解相互关联的动物、公共和环境健康系统。为了培养系统思维，参与式建模和严肃游戏正日益受到关注。严肃游戏将游戏、指导和基于问题的学习结合起来，以促进技能的获取。本研究探讨了多人严肃游戏框架作为一种参与式方法在兽医硕士课程中培养系统思维技能的潜力。该研究的重点是“领土游戏”，旨在鼓励参与和创造力，评估其在培养兽医学生系统思维方面的作用。该游戏融入了硕士课程，让学生沉浸在复杂的决策情景中，帮助他们应对现实世界的复杂性。通过对讨论和回应的定性分析提供了深入的见解。结果表明，在参与式结构中基于严肃游戏的学习可以增强参与者对决策复杂性的掌握。游戏的模拟环境促进了更广泛的视角，并考虑了选择中的各种因素。此外，游戏框架还有潜力增强小组参与度、自主性、时间管理和对内向个体的包容性。然而，该研究承认，参与式建模等教学方法可能并不适合所有的背景，并且可能需要教师的支持。教育限制、参与水平、学习风格和专业知识会影响框架的有效性。尽管如此，“领土游戏”框架在加深对复杂兽医决策的理解和培养有效的决策所需的关键系统思维技能方面显示出了前景。未来的研究应探索其在不同教育环境中的适应性、可扩展性和长期影响。
