Frontiers in Pediatrics has published a research article on RETAIN, custom-designed board game aimed at training healthcare providers in neonatal resuscitation. As the tabletop gaming hobby becomes more popular with the general public, I hope we’ll see more clinical research focused on their teaching effectiveness.
Knowledge retention increased by 12% between pre- and post-test (49–61%, respectively). The improvement in performance and knowledge supports the use of board game simulations for clinical training.
I found this bit interesting. As a teaching tool, tabletop games may be more effective as a method of review rather than for introducing large amounts of entirely new information.
Board or video games can be effective tools for teaching information to various learners in different situations. However, games are not suitable for presenting all types of materials. Games do not lend themselves to the delivery of large amounts of information over short periods of time. However, games have been found to be a very effective method of reviewing material and reinforcing facts and utilizing the knowledge gained through individual experiences and enhancing motivation by providing an avenue for validating personal knowledge and sharing experiences with peers.