Educational Media to Promote healthcare Awareness through an Immersive Experience (EMPATHIE)

PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT SignificanceEMPATHIE is a unique learning system that introduces healthcare and science concepts in an imaginative and engaging platformThe system combines an innovative motion based game interface with software that provides an immersive experience into motor control disorders and promotes inquiry based challengesImportantlythese lesson modules are presented to the student using design thinking philosophy to enable a positive experience for students of diverse of abilities and backgroundsProblem to be AddressedU Sstudents rank poorly for performance in sciencetechnologyengineeringand mathSTEMfields when compared to other countriesThe number of students who pursue STEM and healthcare careers is not sufficient to meet the needs of the modern workplaceInteractive digital mediaIDMtargeted towards STEM education provide students with engaging experiences that improve learning and interest in the STEM fieldsHoweverdesign of software that is effective for learning and readily applicable to classrooms is a challenging taskOf particular concern is the need to develop tools that are relevant to a range of socioeconomic groupsin order to increase diversity in STEM fieldsLong Term GoalImprove STEM learning and interest in students from a range of diverse backgroundsPhase I HypothesesThe SBIR Phase I program will test the hypotheses that students who complete EMPATHIE lessons will see statistically significant increases in both science interest and learningPhase I SummaryBarron AssociatesIncaward winning innovators in the field of serious video gameshas partnered with educational leaders who champion design thinking and diversity in STEM for this SBIR Phase I program to demonstrate the feasibility of the EMPATHIE systemThe specific objectives of the Phase I program are toconduct participatory design sessions to inform the game story framework and engagement mechanisms targeted towards a variety of student populationsdevelop the Phase I EMPATHIE lesson content focused on learning standards for middle school science classesincluding life sciencephysical scienceand engineering designdevelop the EMPATHIE software that integrates the game contentlesson contentand motion based interfacesandperform pilot testing of learning and engagement levels with middle school students following game playSuccessful Phase I prototype game development will lay the foundation for the Phase II effortwhich will include development of a commercial product that expands lesson options to include high school grade levelsand wide scale evaluation of the EMPATHIE systemImpactThe system will have a significant impact on STEM education by increasing student learning and promoting interest in healthcare careers PROJECT NARRATIVE The proposed EMPATHIE system is an innovative educational game environment that leads students through lesson modules to introduce science concepts using an immersive and engaging platformThe EMPATHIE system promises to enhance STEM education byproviding novel and exciting STEM content through science lessons and a unique electromyography game interfaceensuring lessons are engaging and relevant to students from under represented groups by including them in game development through a participatory design processandincorporating design thinking concepts with a focus on developing empathy by placing students in the role of a patient dealing with daily challenges