Review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated August 2014

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Edheads: Trauma

Name: Edheads: Trauma
Item: Edheads: Trauma
Rating: 3
Author: Debbie Gorrell

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Realistic, information-packed ER sim promotes critical thinking

Subjects & skills

Grades This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.

9–12

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5 images

Two main characters guide kids through the ER tests and procedures.

Worksheets help kids record test results.

Kids analyze body scans for potential health issues.

A patient report helps kids get started on a diagnosis.

Kids tap x-rays to identify problem areas for the ER patient.

Pros: Accurate diagnostic tools, medical vocabulary, and a realistic story line engage and empower kids to learn about ER medicine.

Cons: Text-heavy at times, the game doesn't always provide enough guidance for analyzing data.

Bottom Line: Kids will get an engaging, realistic experience, but unless they have prior experience with medical terminology, they'll likely need additional learning support. Resources on the developer's website help.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Edheads: Trauma is an excellent tool for kids who are studying biology or want to enter the medical field. Teachers could use it as part of a human anatomy or general biology course. A great place to start is the teacher's guide on the developer's website. Review the glossary terms with kids before they use the app. The activity would work well as a teacher-led lesson or as a small-group activity. If kids work in small groups, pause after each section (such as Introduction, Emergency Room 1, and so on) and discuss the results of the patient assessments. Be sure students use the worksheets provided so they can more easily follow the learning process and review their work as needed.

What Is It?

Edheads: Trauma is an animated story that teaches kids how to stabilize and diagnose patients who've been admitted to the emergency room. One patient, for example, has passed out behind the wheel of a car, and several tests are required to determine why. The main characters, an ER doctor and a pharmacist, introduce kids to the emergency room and incoming patients. Kids then work through various stages of testing and analyze the data to determine each patient's condition. For example, kids assess a patient's neurological condition using a Glasgow Coma Scale. The ER doctor does an awful lot of talking as she explains various tests. A voice-to-text feature at the bottom of the screen can help kids follow along, but some tappable glossary terms and explanations embedded directly into the app could help ease kids into the terminology. Note that some content might not be appropriate for younger kids: A patient dies as a result of a drug overdose and is suspected of having an addiction.

Is It Good for Learning?

Students can learn quite a bit of medical terminology as well as how to assess a patient by examining physical condition and conducting diagnostic tests. The scenario is realistic, engaging, and highly interactive. The app promotes critical thinking skills as kids analyze data and reach conclusions about each patient's condition. Kids assess and rate a patient's physical responses, examine X-rays for potential problems, and analyze blood and urine. As they work through each part of the exam, kids tap to answer questions and locate issues on X-rays, while receiving hints and detailed instructions from the ER doctor. More feedback could help when kids get off-track, especially with the X-rays, which can be difficult to analyze. Since kids get a tremendous amount of information, some background knowledge about medical terminology and tests would be very beneficial.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

Story line is realistic and interesting, and kids will like analyzing X-rays and patient symptoms. The game is quite text-heavy at times.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

Students work step by step to solve medical problems, which promotes critical thinking skills. They get a lot of information at once, which can be overwhelming. A glossary of medical terms is available on the developer's website.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

Teacher's guide and glossary are excellent classroom supplements. Access to more direct hints and feedback within the app would add a lot to the learning experience.

Common Sense Reviewer

Debbie Gorrell Educator

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Featured review by
Donna M. , Classroom teacher

Classroom teacher

Vista Visions Academy
Vista, United States

An engaging simulation that allows students to diagnose a patients

Students love it! The simulation gives them the opportunity to see what medical personnel do. The scenario is based on teenagers who have abused prescription drugs - something students can relate to - although the students end up in the emergency room. The teacher support materials, while not intensive, are quite helpful, with a lesson plan and glossary. While the characters talk, there is also text that students can follow along with, which is helpful for poor readers or second language learners. I wou ...

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