ENROLLED: Creating a board game to influence student retention and success

This dissertation documents the justification, creation, and refinement of a traditional board game to be used in first-year experience (freshman seminar) courses. The board game enRolled allows students to play college in a guided classroom environment. The game creates a low-stakes environment for students to be able to fail at college without risking time and money. Further, it is designed to give students a relatable topic to debate. By having a common experience, students can distance themselves from what their expectations of college are and deliberate on the tangible game they have played. The discussions that stem from this play and the modification of the game elements are designed to help the students take ownership over the experience. Having a game experience to discuss allows a student to objectively analyze their player’s path through the academic setting and debate realistic and perceived unrealistic challenges. Through these discussions, it is possible for students to engage with content while having little to no firsthand knowledge. It is the hope of this author that the creation of enRolled leads to a more engaging curriculum in first-year experience courses.