This year’s fall CUE conferences sparked memories of a similar moment: presenting our authentic medical mystery at Fall CUE 2024. I remember it vividly.
I had the pleasure of speaking at the Fall CUE (Computer Using Educators) 2024 Conference in Sacramento, hosted at the beautifully designed Sacramento Convention Center. It was Fall CUE’s first time organizing the event at this venue, and the city made an excellent choice. The conference center, with its spacious and clean layout, was conveniently located next to the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. The venue provided the perfect setting for networking, reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new colleagues from across the education world.
A Hands-On Approach to Learning: Walk in the Shoes of a Detective & Solve an Authentic Medical Mystery
I was honored to present the innovative work my team and I created at Indelible Learning. My talk, “Walk In The Shoes Of A Detective and Solve An Authentic Medical Mystery,” aimed to engage, inform, and inspire educators. Judging by the feedback, we succeeded! Attendees shared how eager they were to integrate this tool into their classrooms, ranging from middle school to adult education. Their excitement was deeply rewarding for me.
Making a global impact and positively influencing others’ lives are core values that drive me, and this experience reaffirmed their importance. Seeing the potential of our game to transform classrooms and inspire learning made all the hard work worthwhile.
Award from the National Institutes of Health
The research and development for our digital game: End of Imperial was inspired by authentic medical mystery and supported by a competitive award from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences. We’re humbled to have won this award and deeply grateful for their support, which enabled us to bring this impactful educational technology to life. While our work continues, the results thus far have already made a significant difference, and it was thrilling to share this journey with CUE attendees.
About the Game: End of Imperial
“In this digital learning game, players investigate a mysterious car crash at one of Los Angeles’ deadliest intersections during the early morning hours. The game’s authenticity shines through, with real-life locations and characters inspired by the diverse people who live, work, and serve in L.A., including first responders, trauma care providers, and investigators. Players use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to rule out various causes of the crash, ultimately uncovering the role of healthy and unhealthy sleep habits in the incident. The game’s characters reflect diversity in gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background, providing players with a window into real-world careers and health-related challenges. End of Imperial is research-based, funded by the National Institutes of Health, and aligned with NGSS, health, and career standards.”
Transforming Learning Through Game-Based Experiences
The development of End of Imperial focused on critical learning objectives, including sleep health, accident prevention, and fostering interest in health and science careers. By allowing students to step into the role of detectives, we’ve created an immersive experience that blends learning with the thrill of discovery. This method not only deepens understanding but helps students build essential skills such as reasoning from evidence, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Through our game, we’ve seen firsthand how game-based learning can ignite curiosity and empower students to explore new interests. It’s clear that digital learning games like ours represent a transformative step forward in education, making learning both engaging and practical.
Sharing Research Insights
During the presentation, I also shared insights from our research. End of Imperial creates a rich, immersive experience where students tackle real-world challenges, leading to thoughtful discussions and a deeper understanding of the world around them. By maintaining high standards in language and concept complexity, we treat students with the respect they deserve, fostering an authentic love for learning. This, in turn, helps students take their new knowledge beyond the classroom and into their everyday lives.
Our approach to career education has also made a big impact. For many students—especially those in urban public and charter schools—End of Imperial has been their first introduction to various health and science careers. The game not only teaches them about potential career paths but also inspires them to continue their educational journey.
Engaged Audience at Fall CUE
The audience at Fall CUE was deeply engaged during my session, actively participating in solving clues and discussing the mystery as it unfolded. Attendees asked insightful questions and were eager to explore how this game could fit into their own educational settings. They saw the potential for integrating End of Imperial into various classes, from STEM and forensics to AP anatomy and physiology.
Hearing educators express their desire to use our game in CTE programs and other educational tracks was incredibly validating. Comments like, “I would love to use this game for my students,” and “This would fit well into my STEM class,” reaffirmed that our work is making a difference.
Thank You, CUE Community
It was a truly rewarding experience to present at Fall CUE 2024, sharing what we’ve built and connecting with passionate educators and innovators. Thank you to the conference planning committee, CUE board, and staff for making this event such a success. I’m already looking forward to future opportunities to share more about our work, whether it’s about medical mysteries, sleep health, or the many career paths in health and science.
You can learn more about our work here:
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