Faculty members Gengyun Le-Chan from the A&S and Somaye Seddighikhavidak from the CETA have integrated Game-Based Learning (GBL) into undergraduate courses for spring 2025. This innovative teaching strategy aims to boost student engagement, deepen understanding, and enhance knowledge retention through immersive, interactive experiences.
Supported by the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium and the UHart CTEI Teaching and Learning Grant, GBL has been implemented in two courses: Anatomy & Physiology (BIO213) and Environmental Systems for Architectural Design (ADT241). In BIO213, students interact with interactive anatomy games (Jeopardy, scavenger hunt, Kahoot etc.) to better grasp complex biological processes. In ADT241, architecture students tackle game-based design challenges that connect theory with hands-on practice. Across both disciplines, GBL fosters collaboration, competition, and real-time feedback - key drivers of engagement and active learning.
Their findings not only inform future curriculum enhancements at UHart but also will be shared with the national Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) community. Gengyun and Somaye will present their results at the prestigious Lilly Conference on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning in Austin, Texas on May 20, showcasing how GBL enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and student engagement across disciplines. This cross-disciplinary initiative represents a significant step forward in innovative pedagogy at UHart, equipping students with the skills to meet real-world challenges creatively and confidently.
For more information, please contact Gengyun Le-Chan gle@hartford.edu or Somaye Seddighikhavidak sseddighi@hartford.edu