Tabletop Role-Playing Games for Teamwork: A Pilot of a Methodology for Developing Socio-emotional Skills
Keywords:
game-based learning, experiential learning, socio-emotional skills, role-playing games, tabletop, teamworkAbstract
The rapid growth of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector in Chile has highlighted the need for workers to develop “soft skills” beyond their technical knowledge. These soft skills, including teamwork, empathy, adaptability, and leadership, are essential for professional success and societal well-being. However, the Chilean education system has been identified as insufficient in incorporating soft skills into formal education, leaving many ICT sector applicants lacking these crucial abilities. BS&G Taller de Innovación has implemented role-playing game workshops to address this issue and enhance the soft skills of participants.
This exploratory study involved 80 hours of role-playing games with 10 teams, primarily from the Information and Communication Technologies sector. The results indicate statistically significant changes in task, production, and adaptability, as well as in two items related to entrepreneurial leadership self-efficacy. Empathy did not show significant changes, but some trends were observed. The role-playing game workshops provided participants with a unique opportunity to develop social and emotional skills in a cooperative and engaging environment, strengthening interpersonal relationships and communication within teams.
While the logistics and execution of the workshops were successful, there were several considerations for improving the methodology in the future, such as adjusting the time commitment, providing clearer instructions for newcomers, incorporating audiovisual material, and enhancing interactivity. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of role-playing games as a viable, attractive, and unconventional method for developing soft skills in the ICT sector and beyond.
Editorial note: This article is a translation of a peer-reviewed version originally published in 2023 in La Revista de Estudios sobre Juegos de Rol y STEAM (English: Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM). Special thanks to the journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Cristo León, for doublechecking the translation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Felipe García-Soriano, Francisca Faret Moreno, Daniel González Cohens
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