A Quest to Engage Computer Science Students: Using Dungeons & Dragons for Developing Soft Skills

Abstract

For several years the learning of soft skills has been underappreciated in computer science education. At the same time industry articulates the growing need for well skilled professionals that are technically equipped on one hand and good communicators and collaborators on the other hand. World wide, educational institutions adopted the suggestions from 21st century skills advise reports and started to include soft skills related topics in their curricula. This paper explains our didactic approach for engaging students into active learning for developing soft skills and to make them aware of the importance of this topic in relation to their professional future. The track ’Storytelling’ in our Game Development and Simulation program is perfectly suited for applying a didactic approach in which soft skills are naturally integrated in lectures and examination. We so do by utilising the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The game involves grouping students together to solve several story-driven challenges. The students have to collaborate and apply their creativity to solve these presented problems and overcome obstacles. Based on surveys from two academic semesters, we conclude that using the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons as a didactic instrument contributes to the development of students’ soft skills by offering them an engaging way of learning.