Enhancing interdisciplinary engineering courses through game-based learning

Game-based learning becomes increasingly valuable as engineering education adapts to industry trends and the need for interdisciplinary skills. This study examines a multidisciplinary master's course on the efficacy of board games at a Swedish university. It promotes teamwork and engagement with tactile board games. The game's effectiveness is evaluated through iterative design, testing, questionnaires, and observations, focusing on engagement, learning outcomes, and user experience. The findings indicate that the board game improves student motivation, collaboration, and understanding of real-world engineering challenges by allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in a structured, interactive environment. The study provides (1) a validated framework for developing educational board games for interdisciplinary contexts, (2) empirical evidence supporting physical game-based learning in engineering education, and (3) practical insights for educators seeking to implement similar approaches in their courses. The study concludes that well-designed board games enhance interdisciplinary engineering learning, with implications for educational and industrial training contexts.