Win, Lose, or Solve: Introducing Code-Constrained Problem-Solving Using Board Games

Incoming engineering students rarely understand the role reading and written documents will play in their future engineering careers and problem-solving.Whether developing solutions in compliance with codes and standards, managing project documents and contracts, or engaging with journal articles and conferences, practicing engineers must be able to increase their understanding through reading and apply that increased understanding to solve problems.In a first-year introduction to civil engineering course, a unit on reading and problem solving is reinforced through playing board games.Before class, students are asked to read an excerpt from Mortimer and Adler's How to Read a Book [1].During the lecture class, students are introduced to learning processes and the importance of reading for lifelong learning.Students then receive the ruleset for a gateway Euro-style board game.Between classes, students read the ruleset and prepare to play the game.In the next class period, students play the board game, communicating primarily to ensure play by the rules.After playing the game, the students reflect on how their reading comprehension influenced their problem solving and strategizing during the game.Student surveys report that though the students do not feel overly confident about the combination of their reading and problem-solving skills, the activity increased their awareness of the role reading plays in lifelong learning for the engineer.