Who’s the winner when using games for teaching?

At StageIT, Swedish partner of the e-ManTRA project, they have for many years developed training solutions and digital applications for their customers in the transport sector. One of the things that affects many of their customers is the rules regarding driving and resting times (ESR). The purpose of the driving and rest time regulation (EU) 2020/1054 is to get decent working conditions for drivers and to curb unhealthy competition in the road transport sector.

Right now, StageIT is involved in the exciting e-ManTRA project, where they are developing a digital card game for transport managers with the aim of rehearsing knowledge about the regulation in an interesting way and putting it in a concrete context. In addition to increasing knowledge, the purpose is to create a dialogue between participants about the rules and their application and how they influence the industry.

So, what genre to use if not a game about driving?

The e-ManTRA game is a modern version of the American automotive card game “Touring”, designed in 1906. Or actually the French version “Mille Bornes” from 1954, since StageIT is using the coup-fourré rules (where players can dodge sneaky manoeuvres from their opponents with “counter thrust” cards).

Unlike the original game, where only these randomly drawn dodge cards allow the game to continue, learners will be able to free themselves by correctly answering questions related to their future job as a transport manager. Other rules have also changed to adapt it to the transport world. In this digital version of the game, learners need to plan their driving times so that they arrive at their destination faster than all the other trucks. They need quite a lot of transports knowledge to get out of tricky situations, and need to know the driving- and resting time regulations like the back of their hand to stay away from trouble and optimise their transport, but as in most games, some luck is needed, too!

Six players can play together using smartphones or other devices. One game requires an average of 30-60 minutes of playtime, quite suitable for an exciting training session. Only one person can reach the top of the leader board, but everyone will be winners with this training application.

The development of the game is currently in an early stage. If you would like to be one of the first to try the game you can register as a beta game tester, just contact us through the project website!

Continue to follow our work in the e-ManTRA project page.