Game On!: Thinking, Writing, and Board Games

Board game play and analysis can build the same skills in learning, writing, and critical thinking that are necessary for achievement in employment and in more conventional academic work. Each Game On! participant will be expected to learn two board games per week, playing each game a minimum of three times. Then we'll meet remotely as a class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for short interactive lectures and discussion of readings and our gameplay experiences. A total of ten written assignments during this five-week course will require course members to analyze each game they played. 

Enrollment in Game On! requires willingness to play a variety of types of analog board games, and to read, think, write, and talk about them. Previous study of board games and previous college writing classes are NOT required. We will work with games to which participants already have access, and some free print-and-play games may be available online. However, to experience all of the types of board games required, participants may need to purchase one or more games. Please email the faculty for more information.

Our work will be conducted remotely, using Canvas and Zoom. The faculty will offer alternative assignments if conditions or illness prevent students from accessing our synchronous meetings, which will allow students to earn comparable credit.