Engaging Science and Technology Studies students with ethical dilemmas at Campus Fryslân

The context

For the final lecture of the semester, the course lecturers sought an engaging activity that would help students synthesize the themes they had explored. They invited me to facilitate a session using the UnExpected Values board game to provide a dynamic, hands-on learning experience.

The session in action

The workshop was structured around the Foundation mode of the UnExpected Values: The Free Market game to allow for quick immersion. After a brief introduction to the core rules, approximately 25 students divided into three tables and began playing. 

Using the Environmental Dilemmas thematic set, students grappled with the environmental impact of various industries, forcing them to debate the trade-offs between profitability and sustainability as they built their companies.

The outcome: Deep engagement and meaningful discussions

The primary goal was to spark conversation and critical reflection—a goal the game met successfully. The students were not just playing; they were actively debating, negotiating, and justifying their decisions to one another, mirroring the complex discussions central to Science and Technology Studies. The students' engagement was so profound that they remained deeply involved in gameplay and discussion for well over an hour.

The lecturers confirmed the session's success. As one of them noted: "The engagement with your board game was great for our students to not only supplement all they had learned in our individual courses but also an opportunity to share this knowledge with each other, as your game does a great job of forcing the players into discussions about topics related to contemporary issues that they should be aware of and interested in."

This feedback highlights the game's strength as a tool for collaborative learning and applied critical thinking.

Educator takeaways

• Effective synthesis tool: The game successfully served as a capstone activity, helping students connect and apply course concepts in a simulated, real-world context.

• Promotes discussion: The dilemma-based format naturally forces players to articulate their reasoning and engage with diverse perspectives.

• High engagement: The competitive yet collaborative nature of the game led to sustained student involvement and energy.