Study Habits
Board Game
ALX Renew needed a way of normalizing failure and incentivizing good study habits. Game on!
The state exams required for operators at VA’s water treatment plants are tough. Most don't pass on their first try and some take up to five or more attempts. Recognizing the need for more nuanced understanding of this issue, we applied our expertise in facilitation and design thinking. Through carefully planned group sessions and in-depth interviews with operators at Alexandria’s water treatment facility, we identified a few of the issues hindering exam performance and took steps to address them with a game.
Primary Findings From Our Research:
The exam process often leaves people feeling frustrated and negative.
Test-takers keep retry counts private, unaware that repeated attempts are common.
Mentorship is beneficial, but there are several obstacles that prevent it.
There aren’t regular opportunities to discuss test-taking strategies and compare notes.
Solution: A Board Game for Exam Preparation
Acknowledging these pain points, we designed a unique board game to shake up the exam prep status quo. Our game transforms exam-induced stress and secrecy into a shared, positive endeavor. Utilizing elements of friendly competition and teamwork, we aim to ease exam stress while encouraging honest discussions about test retakes and study tactics. These conversations ultimately foster a more transparent and supportive environment, empowering operators to work together in overcoming the challenges of this rigorous exam process.
Features: Flexibility and Durability
The game is wall-mounted, magnetic, and is designed to be played over 6-12 months. It can accommodate 6-36 players and mismatched team sizes. This flexibility is a crucial feature, as it needs to be able to adapt to stay relevant over time. Players may realize after a while that the rules or setup may need to be adjusted to keep the game fun and engaging. Magnetic game spaces can be rearranged or replaced with an included set of magnetic blanks. Printed rules on the board can be updated by overlaying a new sheet of vinyl. The entire board is dry-erase compatible for user customization.
Navigating the Board: Gameplay Essentials
Gameplay is similar in some ways to the board game Sorry. Players are grouped into six teams based on shift and participate either as a mentee or a mentor, based on their exam status. Players move by drawings cards and moving a number of spaces according to the card’s instructions. Some cards use the number of test attempts taken as a multiplier, which requires all players to publicly track their test attempts on the board. Upon landing on a space, they must do the action listed in order to draw again. Most actions are either study habit prompts, mentorship prompts, or both. Points are awarded when all team members complete a lap, fostering a supportive and collaborative dynamic.
User Experience: Mentees to Mentors
Players are divided into six teams and have two possible statuses—mentees and mentors. Mentees use basic colored game pieces and land only on the inner game spaces. Upon passing all four state exams, they receive a white ring and become Mentors. As mentors, they use only the outer game spaces, with actions that more closely match their roles.