Triumpha : a board game for physical education students

Abstract

Living in a highly technological world driven by immediate gratification, one may recognise the urgency to distance ourselves from conventional teaching methodologies (Penalva, 2023). Branching into the realm of gamification, literature exposes its transformative potential within the educational context which, when used appropriately, reaches far beyond “merely making learning fun” (Christopoulos & Mystakidis, 2023, p. 1224). Supported by research, such a game-based approach exploits our natural inclination, fostering the development of critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving skills, among a multitude of other elements (Henderson, 2005). Specifically pertaining to board games, their idiosyncratic designs offer an authentic opportunity for learners to experience collaborative and communicative skills through social and emotional learning (Weissberg et al., 2016). Tying into the experiential learning model, creating a non-traditional learning environment sparks curiosity and motivation, providing them with the opportunity to actively involve themselves within the dynamic learning process (Kumar & Lightner, 2007). The creation of this project targets an experiential pedagogical approach, using the board game and elements included in Triumpha as resources bridging technical and interpersonal skills out of the institutional context and into the learners’ lives. In doing so, one may work towards providing a meaningful, value-laden education empowering our learners – the future contributors of society.