Linking Out Loud (LOL): Developing critical thinking

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Background: Developing critical thinking in health care education is pivotal in student development and patient outcomes. Gamification and learning through play within health care education is rising in popularity and may assist to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Aim: To develop and enhance students’ capacity to rapidly recall and communicate critical links in practice through a modified ‘snap’ game. Method: Students are provided decks of cards depicting clinical pictures (syringe, bath, blood, medications etc). Turning over two cards at a time, the students race to link the two concepts together. Findings: Linking Out Loud was well received by students and worked to develop knowledge, critical thinking, communication and problem-solving. Linking Out Loud could be easily replicated for all health disciplines.