Bubble Beats Handwashing Trainer at 2023 Ed Games Expo
Ed Games Expo, The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. — Wednesday, 9/20/2023
As Principal Investigator on multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, I’ve been fortunate to work on projects that advance public health and improve the well-being of our great nation.
Now we are in Washington DC with so many other great innovators. I felt deep gratitude. My heart was giddy with happiness. I took a slow, deep breath. I let myself reflect on the inspiration, vision, and countless hours of work that went into creating something meaningful.
It was an early Wednesday morning. A fresh breeze brushed my cheeks as I walked to the venue. The day promised to be beautiful. I arrived early, with plenty of time to check the presentation room.
The Skylight Pavilion at The Reach at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is breathtakingly beautiful. It is a 23,000-square-foot glass-enclosed pavilion that offers spectacular views of the Potomac River and the Georgetown skyline.
As I admired the scenery, a quote by Lyndon B. Johnson came to mind and made me smile:
“If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: ‘President Can’t Swim.’”
Then another thought quickly followed:
“This afternoon, we’ll ‘dig’ into U.S. Presidential Election games. But this morning, we’ll teach students and adults how to prevent infections through proper handwashing. It is a simple yet powerful habit. And we will teach them in a fun, innovative, and memorable way.”
I felt excited. Motivated. Inspired.
I am a physician. “A pretty darn good one!” as my husband would say. When I am on call, I regularly walk the halls of the hospital to go to the Emergency Room. I examine, evaluate, diagnose, treat and admit patients to the hospital. I am focused on using my knowledge, talent, and skills to provide the best medical care possible to all patients from all walks of lives. When I am working at the hospital, I am excited. The hospital is a place where I feel fully alive, where adrenaline flows in the best way. It is good adrenaline. Hospital is a place I feel at home.
Strangely enough, standing in the Skylight Pavilion that morning felt a bit like being home too: beautiful, excited yet peaceful.
The Skylight Pavilion room was calm. A few staff members were setting up tables, but the atmosphere remained serene. I began setting up our station while soaking in the light of the new day. A different kind of adrenaline built inside me—anticipation. I was looking forward to the event.
Gradually, I heard the distant buzz of children’s voices as they began lining up outside. The sound grew louder. Then, suddenly, like a dam bursting, a wave of energy filled the spacious room.
Students entered the Pavilion with excitement, rolling in, in a rapid, but well controlled speed. They arrives in small groups of four to six with their teachers or chaperones.
Everyone seemed excited to be there.
They rushed to the Indelible Learning table, eager to find out what they could do.
“Is this an app?”
“It is an app?!”
“How cool!”
“What do I need to do?”
Just learning that it was a simulation on an app sparked their curiosity and enthusiasm.
Ahhhhhhaaaaa! – many of them exclaimed
They picked it up quickly – with almost no explanation. Working on iPads or Chromebooks was second nature to them, just as picking up pen and paper was for our generation.
Students immediately began playing.
They learned how to position their hands and how to scrub properly.
They discovered how to inspect their work under UV light to see which areas needed more attention and more scrubbing.
And at the end, they earned rewards.
“I bought a comb!” one student exclaimed, then asked, “I don’t know what to do with it?”
That was critical thinking in action—figuring out what they earned and how to use it.
Hearing their comments was pure joy:
“I’m at level 4! I need more points… let’s go!”
“My hands aren’t clean—how do I fix it?”
“Omg, I skipped all the way to level 8! Wow!”
Elements of surprise.
Immersion into competition: friendly competition, that is, that encourages them to learn and grow. Excitement for achieving a specific goal.
Friendly competition fueled their motivation. Their sense of surprise and accomplishment was palpable.
Witnessing their excitement and learning made me happy and fulfilled. I silently hoped they’d never lose this enthusiasm for exploring and learning. And that their spark of curiosity would never be dimmed through growing older..
More delightful reactions followed as new groups of students and teachers/chaperons arrived:
“I wish we could see all the dirt on our hands!”
“I loved popping bubbles.”
“I love unlocking puzzles and getting gold coins.”
“I love items and shopping!”
“We both have cheetah skin. That’s so cool! Let’s go!”
“This game is so satisfying!”
“ I got 2000 on the next level. I am on the level 3.”
“ I love all the sounds.”
“I got 4,000 points—I’m at level 9!”
My heart was smiling with excitement. It seemed that almost 2 years of our hard work and countless hours poured into building Bubble Beats Hand Hygiene Trainer had been worth it.
When one student asked to play again, I asked why she liked it.
“It’s very diverse,” she said—an unexpected but deeply appreciated observation. We were mindful of our creativity and what to include.
Another student added, “I can play all kinds of different music. That is cool.”
“It is interesting.”
“I love this whole thing: you need to figure out what you are doing.”
Beautiful point.
Their insights reminded me of a quote by Susan Linn, MD:
“Play is the foundation of learning, creativity, self-expression, and constructive problem-solving. It’s how children wrestle with life to make it meaningful.”
That was clearly demonstrated with the Bubble Beats Hand Hygiene Trainer.
One of the parent’s chaperone’s smiled and said: “I would appreciate kids learning how to do this well. We would all be less sick”.
She got it! – I thought.
Exactly! – I said.
New groups continued to flow in. I was hearing comments as I observed students in action and while talking to teachers or chaperones.
“Shop—oh, that’s cool.”
“Get the most expensive item!”
“I love ducks.”
“Get the most expensive duck!”
“Why is this duck so expensive?”
“Wow, there’s UV light! That’s cool.”
“I still need to wash more… my thumbs are clean, now what is next?”
“This is so cool!!”
They were clearly immersed in learning through play.
Watching their diligence and focus was a joy. One teacher commented, “It’s an age-appropriate game.”
We call these serious games. Because learning through play is serious. Play is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Whether in person or digital, play offers countless benefits. It gives children the chance to practice what they are learning.
And that morning, through hand hygiene training, we saw that truth in action.
References:
- Skylight Pavilion https://thevendry.com/venue/164249/the-reach-at-the-kennedy-center-washington-dc/space/35023
Dr. Jasminka Vukanovic-Criley MD, FACP, FHM is a multiple award-winning physician, internist, hospitalist, healthcare & education innovator & Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA. She is a career mentor & advisor to numerous undergraduate, graduate & postgraduate students & faculty. As a researcher, Dr. Criley received awards from the National Institutes of Health & the U.S. Department of Education Her work focuses on creating research-driven #edtech games & digital media to improve health, civics, science education & promote healthy habits. Dr Criley is also a sought-after speaker & a founding Board member of Physician’s Weekly. She can be reached on X at @criley_md and at www.linkedin.com/in/jasminka-criley-md