Welcome to the Kansenbord website, the most fun game about your school career! This board game introduces pupils in the final phase of primary school and the first phase of secondary school (aged 10 and above) to the Dutch education system.
The board game focuses on two important moments of choice: choosing a profile in secondary school and choosing a study programme when transitioning from secondary school to further education. With Kansenbord, pupils learn how to prepare themselves well for making these choices.
On this page, you will find more information and explanation about how the game came about, and you will learn how to play the game itself.
A product of the city
The Dutch education system, with its many paths and choices, can be complex for pupils and parents. Conversations with various stakeholders in the city of Rotterdam identified a need to introduce pupils to the education system in a playful way. Furthermore, a need was expressed to support pupils in making well-informed choices. After all, making well-informed choices increases the chance that pupils will end up in the place that suits them best. All these needs have been translated into Kansenbord.
Kansenbord is the product of a collaboration between many stakeholders: IDEA Center (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access Center) of EUR, pupils, educators, EUR students, EUR staff, and game developer Identity Games.
Goal of the game
Kansenbord was specifically developed for pupils in the final stages of primary school and first stages of secondary school. This informative game introduces pupils to the Dutch education system, including the various pathways and outcomes.
Kansenbord starts with choosing a profession. Just like the wide variety of professions in society, Kansenbord encompasses many professions. During the game, pupils learn which graduation profiles correspond with the various professions. They also learn the various educational pathways through secondary and further education that lead to these professions. Some pathways are often already well-known, but it is also possible to explore other routes. The game challenges pupils to consider these different pathways.
During their educational journey, pupils encounter two important moments of choice: choosing a profile (Dutch: profielkeuze) in secondary school and choosing a study programme (Dutch: studiekeuze) during the transition from secondary school to further education. It is important to make well-informed choices. With Kansenbord, pupils learn how to prepare themselves well for making these choices.
More languages
In the Netherlands, cultures and nationalities converge. To make the game accessible to all students and parents/caregivers who interact with the Dutch education system, the rules of the game have been translated into six languages: English, Turkish, Arabic, Polish, French, and Spanish. The translations can be found here. For translations of other Kansenbord materials (e.g., cards), please use a translation service on your smartphone or tablet.
Tips for playing the game
Ready to get started? First, carefully read the rules of Kansenbord, then check out the tips below.
Pupils
- Plan your route: Once you know your profession and starting position, take a moment to carefully examine the board and plan your route(s).
- Take turns: Once the spinner has been spun (by you or your fellow players), take turns performing the corresponding actions. Wait for each other.
- Cover your estimation card (Dutch: schattingskaart): When you draw an estimation card (e.g., How many universities are there in the Netherlands?), hold it on the table while you read the question, or cover the back of the card (which contains the answer) with your hand so your fellow players can't see the answer.
Facilitators
- Support players in considering their route(s):
- What degree (diploma) is required for this profession?
- Why do you think this degree is necessary for this profession?
- What are the possible routes to this diploma?
- Stay calm and keep the overview:
- Have all players taken their steps in turn?
- Have they carried out the actions that resulted from their steps?
- Reflect on lessons learned (after the game):
- What did you learn?
- What are you curious about?
- What could you do to learn more about this topic?
- Use the boardgame as a starting point for a broader discussion about professions and study programmes. You can use the following questions:
- Have you ever heard of this profession?
- Do you know anyone who works in this profession?
- What other profession is this profession similar to?
- Does this profession seem interesting to you? Why/why not?
- Have you ever heard of this study programme?
- Do you know anyone who has completed this study programme?
- What other study programmes are similar to this study programme?
- Do you think this study programme is interesting? Why/why not?
- When developing the game, attention was paid to the equal valuation of the different educational forms in secondary education and further education. It is not about reaching the ‘highest’, where certain educational forms are given more status and/or value than others in today's society, but about finding the right place that suits the wishes and talents of pupils. Support pupils in this approach, for example, through reflective questions:
- What are your talents?
- What do you enjoy doing?
- What do you know about these professions and/or study programmes?
- What would you like to know more about?
FAQ
- What is the goal of the game?
- At the start of the game, you draw a profession card and are assigned a starting position. The goal of the game is to reach your profession. Once you reach your profession, you can draw a new profession card.
- When does the game end?
- The game ends when the recommended playing time of 40 minutes has elapsed. Whoever has collected the most points at that point wins. You can also choose to extend or shorten the playing time.
- How are points collected in the game?
- You can earn points by reaching your profession, earning a diploma, winning minigames, and winning chance cards (Dutch: kanskaarten).
- Is the game available in other languages?
- Kansenbord can be played in several languages. The rules are available in six languages on the website. For other materials, we recommend using a translation function on a smartphone or tablet. You'll need a smartphone or tablet with a camera for this.
- Can the game also be played with adults (e.g., parents/caregivers or educators)?
- Yes, absolutely! The game was specifically designed for primary school students 10-12 years, but it can also be played by secondary school students and adults who enjoy playing along.
- Can I play the game with more than five players?
- We recommend playing the game with a maximum of five players to keep the game manageable.
- One or more game components are broken. What can I do?
- Contact IDEA Center to discuss whether replacement of game components is possible (ideacenter@eur.nl).