in the Escape Room

Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning, Professor Vanessa Steenkamp (third from right), Head of Undergraduate and Surgical Skills Laboratories Professor Ronel Herselman (far right) and ZOLL Medical Corporation representatives

Teams participating in the competition

Radiography students interacting in an escape room experience

traditionally watch on video or practise in a laboratory. Students had to deal with additional pressures, such as time management. After each scenario, student teams received feedback and were given another opportunity to apply what they had learnt in the scenario.

Students embraced the opportunity to put what they had learnt in the lecture rooms into practice. Third-year MBChB student Nicole Nesser stated: ‘It was a great experience for me. I was doing CPR but didn’t know that I could improve my skill. The instructor, real-life scenario and machines helped me realise what I can improve to become a better doctor in future’.

The Department of Radiography hosted an interactive workshop at the Health Sciences Skills Laboratory to enhance students’ understanding and implementation of the code of conduct for radiography, using the escape room concept. Groups comprised ten students each and had a combination of first-, second- and third-year students. Acting Head of Department Dr Mable Kekana noted that the escape room had been identified by Ms Malherbe as a way to encourage students to practise teamwork, time management and problem-solving, as well as the ability to focus under pressure. Dr Kekana added: ‘The interactive workshop on the code of conduct using the escape room method was used enhance inter-professional and intrapersonal relations among radiography students in the different year groups, as well as their relations with staff in the academic and clinical training facilities. Looking at the word clouds that were generated after the workshop, I can say that the objectives have been met’.