Library Games Collection

The use of games and play in learning is currently a very active field of study. Serious games, Serious Play™ and play in adulthood are all key concepts being explored across industry and academia. The Journal of Play in Adulthood and the Playful Learning Association are prime examples of how the value of play is being explored by the sector. The benefits of using board games for both personal development and in teaching and learning, as well as for wellbeing, has become widely recognised across disciplines and industries for their ability to embed knowledge, teach computational thinking, develop empathy, soft skills and strengthen a range of other transferable skills.

The Library Games Collection (LGC) is dedicated to supporting research development and innovation in this field by promoting the use of games across teaching at York St John, grounded in this established and developing pedagogy.

More literature on this can be found in the LGC reading list.

Permission to play

Board games give students permission to engage in play as part of their learning process. Play has a significant role in learning and is an effective way to develop knowledge and skills; however, we are often taught that it is not acceptable for adults to play. The LGC helps challenge this perception and strives to create an environment that allows learning through play.

Permission to fail

The pressure to achieve academic success can be stressful and many are reluctant to take risks for fear of making mistakes. Board games create an environment where it is safe and acceptable for students to experiment and fail, and provides a valuable space for learning from those failures.

Games are available for loan for up to 2 days and can be reserved for use in teaching and learning sessions by contacting library@yorksj.ac.uk

The LGC team can provide support for staff wishing to use games in their sessions, including, making recommendations, mapping skills and learning outcomes, coaching and in-session support (where availability allows), and guidance for reflection and debriefing activities. If you are interested in using games in your session but you’re not sure where to start please get in touch, we’d be happy to help explore how games could support your learning objectives.

Games can be excellent vectors for developing soft skills, forming positive habits and supporting wellbeing. It can be hard to provide resources and opportunities for students to work on these skills independently or outside of a formal setting, but when used as part of a social and academic prescribing initiative, games can provide the structure for this development.

The LGC is designed with both social and academic prescribing in mind and supported by our extensive skills matrices. Be it using solo journalling RPGs to support students in developing a writing habit, recommending games to enhance group work, or providing cosy, playful games to reduce stress and lessen burn out, the LGC can provide the resources to support student development and wellbeing.