Objectives: Although the Medical Informatics Section (MIS) is one of the largest MLA sections, new ways to enhance section membership breathe life into a section. The creation of a Zombie Hunt game is a novel interactive approach to encourage people to join our section, have fun, and use some technology during MLA \u2712

Ascher, Marie T

Whipple, Beth

English

The Touro College and University System

Touro Scholar NYMC Faculty Posters Faculty 5-2012 Seeking out New Blood (and Brains!) for Section Membership through Quick Response (QR) Codes and Zombies Marie T. Ascher New York Medical College, marie_ascher@nymc.edu Beth Whipple Follow this and additional works at: https://touroscholar.touro.edu/nymc_fac_posters  Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation Ascher, M.T. & Whipple, B.C. (2012, May). Seeking out new blood (and brains!) for section membership through quick response (QR) codes and zombies. Poster presented at the meeting of the Medical Library Association, Seattle, WA. This Poster is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty at Touro Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in NYMC Faculty Posters by an authorized administrator of Touro Scholar. For more information, please contact daloia@nymc.edu. Seeking out New Blood (and Brains!) for Section Membership through Quick Response (QR) Codes and Zombies Marie T. Ascher, AHIP, Associate Director, USER Services, Health Sciences Library, New York Medical College marie_ascher@nymc.edu  Beth C. Whipple, AHIP, Research Informationist and Assistant Librarian, Ruth Lilly Medical Library, Indiana University ewhipple@iu.edu   How did the Zombie Hunt Game Work? Two different types of QR Codes distributed and members wore them on badges: WENT TO WENT TO We blogged about it: Objectives: Although the Medical Informatics Section (MIS) is one of the largest MLA sections, new ways to enhance section membership breathe life into a section. The creation of a Zombie Hunt game is a novel interactive approach to encourage people to join our section, have fun, and use some technology during MLA '12.   Can creating and playing a fun networking game sponsored by an MLA Section affect Section Membership?    Methods: The Zombie Hunt game objective is to identify the most MIS member zombies through the use of quick response (QR) codes and Google documents. QR codes were distributed by email to MIS members who identified themselves as attending MLA via an online survey. Along with QR codes, instructions for the game and information on recommended QR readers were distributed. The QR code (1) randomly identifies the member as a zombie or non-zombie and (2) points to a corresponding page that either provides information on MIS meeting activities or, if a zombie were found, provides a form onto which the hunter could record their find. The hunter who finds the most zombies wins! Additionally, the MIS Section Shuffle booth had a zombie theme, and QR codes were distributed throughout the meeting. An assessment of the game's success will follow.  We sent out clever emails…     It was tweeted about… We continued the theme in the Section Shuffle… But did it work? Most zombies found wins! “What a great idea!” -- Everyone And we had winners…  @natalieclairoux: I finally get this zombie thing: after 4 days of #mlanet12, I look like one. #sleepdeprived  @mascher: Final Zombie Hunt results. Best hunters: 1) Michelle Kraft @kraft; 2) Laura McClellan @kiwano1 #mlanet12 #zombies  The Medical Informatics Section surveyed the membership in Spring 2013 to gather information about what drives the decision to join or renew section membership:  The aspects valued as most important by MIS members are  interesting discussions, programming at the annual  meeting, and networking opportunities. While  programming is generally done by the leadership of MIS,  the discussions and networking opportunities are activities  that any MIS member can participate in; the leadership  should make sure to communicate about these  opportunities to ensure that MIS members are getting  the benefits they most desire from the section. It turns out, the zombie game was not a big overall draw for  becoming/remaining  a member of the section. However,  18 people found  that it influenced them some or a lot.  Another new   tactic tried this past year to encourage  interest in MIS was an iPad raffle at the MIS business  meeting. This influenced even less people (11 total).  However, even though these are small numbers, both of  these activities were mentioned specifically in write-in  comments. “Continue with fun activities at MLA like the  Zombie activity.” “Keep doing fun stuff like the zombie hunt!!!”  So we will.   People played, but not too much although everyone wanted the sticker. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank: Michelle Kraft (Chair of MIS at the time of MLA 2012) for all of her support, help, and locating of gummy brains; and Michael Garner, for his leadership for the Section Shuffle, as well as his most excellent zombie poster and zombie persona.  And prizes! 

Seeking out New Blood (and Brains!) for Section Membership through Quick Response (QR) Codes and Zombies

https://touroscholar.touro.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&amp;context=nymc_fac_posters

Seeking out New Blood (and Brains!) for Section Membership through Quick Response (QR) Codes and Zombies

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