Leveraging Popular Board Games to Teach Data Visualization

Information

• Publication Type: Conference Paper
• Workgroup(s)/Project(s): not specified
• Date: 2025
• Publisher: The Eurographics Association
• Open Access: yes
• Location: Luxembourg City
• Lecturer: Lorenzo Amabili
• Event: VisGames 2025 colocated with EuroVis 2025 - 27th EG Conference on Visualization
• Editor: Stoiber, C. and Boucher, M. and de Jesus Oliveira, V. A. and Schetinger, V. and Filipov, V. and Raidou, R. G. and Amabili, L. and Keck, M.
• DOI: 10.2312/visgames.20251165
• Booktitle: Visgames 2025: EuroVis Workshop on Visualization Play, Games, and Activities
• Pages: 6
• Conference date: 2. June 2025 – 6. June 2025
• Keywords: Human-centered computing, visualization theory, concepts and paradigms, Information visualization

Abstract

To address the challenges in visualization education—particularly in motivating and engaging students—we propose the conceptual adaptation of popular board games into educational data visualization games. We present five unique adaptations ofwell-known board games, integrating their mechanics and materials into a data visualization learning process. For each game, we outline specific learning objectives and suggest strategies to extend the game-based approach to broader data visualization education. By combining familiar, engaging game mechanics with visualization content, we aim to foster critical engagement with the learning material while providing students with a foundational understanding of data visualization concepts. Early qualitative results from one of the games indicate a positive impact on players’ learning, boosting engagement and enjoyment.

Additional Files and Images

Weblinks

• Entry in reposiTUm (TU Wien Publication Database)
• DOI: 10.2312/visgames.20251165

BibTeX

@inproceedings{amabili-2025-lpb,
  title =      "Leveraging Popular Board Games to Teach Data Visualization",
  author =     "Lorenzo Amabili and Eduard Gr\"{o}ller and Renata Raidou",
  year =       "2025",
  abstract =   "To address the challenges in visualization
               education—particularly in motivating and engaging
               students—we propose the conceptual adaptation of popular
               board games into educational data visualization games. We
               present five unique adaptations ofwell-known board games,
               integrating their mechanics and materials into a data
               visualization learning process. For each game, we  outline
               specific learning objectives and suggest strategies to
               extend the game-based approach to broader data visualization
               education. By combining familiar, engaging game mechanics
               with visualization content, we aim to foster critical
               engagement with the learning material while providing
               students with a foundational understanding of data
               visualization concepts. Early qualitative results from one
               of the games indicate a positive impact on players’
               learning, boosting engagement and enjoyment.",
  publisher =  "The Eurographics Association",
  location =   "Luxembourg City",
  event =      "VisGames 2025 colocated with EuroVis 2025 - 27th EG
               Conference on Visualization",
  editor =     "Stoiber, C. and Boucher, M. and de Jesus Oliveira, V. A. and
               Schetinger, V. and Filipov, V. and Raidou, R. G. and
               Amabili, L. and Keck, M.",
  doi =        "10.2312/visgames.20251165",
  booktitle =  "Visgames 2025: EuroVis Workshop on Visualization Play,
               Games, and Activities",
  pages =      "6",
  keywords =   "Human-centered computing, visualization theory, concepts and
               paradigms, Information visualization",
  URL =        "https://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/research/publications/2025/amabili-2025-lpb/",
}