Generating interest in technology and medical devices through an interactive educational game

Abstract

Much was learned about how to transform a subject matter previously inaccessible to children into something that is both engaging and relatable. By engaging the children in a fun and interactive way, it was possible to transmit knowledge about medical devices and get them thinking about the potential directions that can be explored by pursuing a future in engineering and technology. Further, by presenting the medical devices in the context of their real life applications, the children were able to make the connection between the concrete and the abstract6. While the results presented here were specifically targeted towards engineering outreach with a focus on medical devices, it is expected that these results are applicable to many areas where it is desired to relay material to children in an accessible and contextual manner. The results demonstrated that this method of information transfer resonated well with children aged four to nine years. Further, it was found that the engagement of children older than ten years was somewhat mitigated and it may be necessary to pursue additional interaction methods for children in this age group. It terms of medical device engineering outreach, an example of this could include a simulated surgical procedure where children attempt to perform a task with difficulty catered to their age group. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.