T- and B-cell ontogeny: an alternative teaching method: T- and B-cell ontogeny game

Abstract

Background and purposes: The game proposed herein stimulates logical thinking and the memorization of complex subject matters in the biomedical field, especially in excessively theoretical disciplines.

Methods: The game consists of an illustrated board with numbered squares, pawns, dice, and a sheet containing questions about the topic. It is played by groups of 6 students and 1 previously trained monitor. The numbered squares correspond to questions about the topic. The player who gets to the last square first wins the game. The validity of the game was tested by means of a questionnaire that was answered by students before and after the game, with a later comparison of the students' grades.

Results: The overall results were positive, and test grades significantly increased after the game.

Conclusions: The game enhances learning of difficult topics and fosters the relationship between students, monitors, and professor, thus facilitating the clarification of points that arose during the study.