Written by: Du Bui, STEM Consultant for Kent ISD
As a child, I never got into the Dungeons & Dragons craze. In fact, like many people, I associated it with negative connotations. But a senior in high school helped change my perspective on the game.
To explain, I have a side gig for Oakland University’s Center For Autism. I run a video game club that focuses on developing social skills. Additionally, I work as a social coach using the Brain Health Organization’s Charisma Program. As part of the program, I enter a virtual world to help individuals work through challenging situations, such as meeting someone new for the first time or preparing for a job interview. I take on different roles and change my voice to match the scenario best.
During a productive session, one of the participants commented, “You would make an excellent Dungeon Master (DM) in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). In D&D, we take on different roles and navigate a made-up world. Our DM from the past five years incorporates our challenging social situations into the game, allowing us to work through our issues in a safe space.” This powerful idea challenged my thinking about roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons.
Educators like myself have been searching for innovative ways to engage students and foster their creativity in recent years. From the realm of fantasy, unexpected allies such as Dungeons and Dragons and other immersive storytelling experiences have emerged. This tabletop roleplaying game has gained recognition as a valuable tool for enhancing learning experiences and promoting essential skills. There is also a lot of research that would support it as a beneficial tool for students and educators.
Unlocking Educational Potential: Fostering Creativity and More Through Roleplaying Games
Let’s explore the benefits of using Dungeons and Dragons in education to foster creativity, enhance communication, develop critical thinking skills, and encourage literacy. Let’s explore how immersive storytelling experiences like Dungeons and Dragons can be used in education; I believe this tabletop roleplaying game can revolutionize how we approach education. Let’s dive in and discover how.
1. Fostering Creativity:
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a game that can stimulate creativity and imagination. As players must invent and explore fictional worlds, scenarios, and characters, they are encouraged to think outside the box, dream up innovative solutions, and unleash their creative potential. By immersing themselves in a world of their creation, students can craft intricate narratives and make decisions that shape the course of their adventures.
A study by Bowman (2010) found that D&D players showed higher levels of divergent thinking, originality, and fluency than non-players. These results suggest that playing D&D can help individuals develop their imaginative and creative skills.
2. Enhancing Communication and Collaboration:
In the game of Dungeons and Dragons, teamwork plays a crucial role. Players must communicate, collaborate, and negotiate with their fellow adventurers to overcome challenges and achieve their objectives together. This cooperative gameplay helps develop essential interpersonal skills such as active listening, clear articulation, empathy, and compromise. As the students interact with different characters during roleplaying, they learn to respect diverse perspectives and work towards a common goal.
A study by Zayas et al. (2020) delved into the potential of D&D as a tool for intercultural education and dialogue. The study found that playing D&D with individuals from different cultural backgrounds can help enhance players’ intercultural competence, awareness, and sensitivity. It also fosters positive attitudes and behaviors towards cultural diversity.
3. Developing Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills:
Dungeons and Dragons is a game that challenges players to think critically and solve complex problems. Whether navigating dangerous dungeons or deciphering riddles and puzzles, players must analyze information, evaluate options, and make informed decisions. By doing so, they develop skills in strategic thinking, adaptability, and anticipation of consequences that extend far beyond the gaming table.
According to a 2018 study by Jacinto et al., playing D&D has positively impacted the critical thinking skills of college students. The study found that D&D improved students’ abilities to analyze and evaluate information, synthesize ideas, and apply logic and reasoning to solve problems.
4. Encouraging Literacy and Numeracy:
Playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) requires a high level of reading comprehension as players interact with rulebooks, character sheets, and written narratives. Students can improve their literacy skills, vocabulary, and reading fluency by immersing themselves in rich storytelling. Moreover, D&D can be an excellent tool to enhance reading and writing abilities, as players must read and understand complex rules, develop their characters, and narrate their stories. A study conducted by Gygax and Arneson in 1974 found that D&D players scored higher on reading comprehension and vocabulary tests compared to non-players.
Additionally, the game incorporates various numerical elements, such as dice rolls and character statistics. Gameplay provides practical applications for mathematical concepts and helps reinforce computational skills. Playing D&D can improve mathematical skills as players need to perform calculations and use statistics to determine the outcomes of their actions. According to a study by Simkins and Steinkuehler 2008, D&D players showed higher mathematical literacy and problem-solving skills than non-players.
5. Nurturing Empathy and Emotional Intelligence:
Playing Dungeons and Dragons involves embodying characters and understanding their motivations, fears, and desires. This immersive experience enables students to explore different perspectives, cultivate empathy, and develop emotional intelligence. As they confront morally ambiguous situations and encounter diverse characters, they learn to make ethical choices and reflect on the consequences of their actions.
A study by Kowert et al. (2020) examined the impact of D&D on players’ mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that playing D&D online helped players cope with stress, loneliness, and boredom while increasing their sense of belonging, social connection, and happiness.
6. Cultivating Leadership and Decision-Making Abilities:
Dungeons and Dragons empowers students to develop and showcase their leadership skills by taking leadership roles within their adventuring parties. They must make decisions that impact the group, delegate tasks, and inspire their teammates. Through these experiences, students develop leadership skills, learn to assess risks and build confidence in their decision-making abilities. The game provides a safe and supportive environment to practice leadership skills and learn from successes and failures.
Moreover, Dungeons and Dragons can foster social and emotional skills like communication, cooperation, empathy, and leadership. A study by Rosselet and Stauffer (2013) found that D&D players reported higher self-esteem, social support, and civic engagement levels than non-players. Similarly, a study by Blackmon (1994) found that D&D players exhibited lower levels of aggression, anxiety, and depression than non-players.
Experience the Transformation in Your Classroom
Dungeons and Dragons offers a unique and immersive educational experience that engages students on multiple levels. By leveraging the power of imagination, storytelling, and cooperative gameplay, educators can harness this popular game to foster creativity, enhance communication, develop critical thinking, and cultivate essential skills. As we continue to explore innovative approaches to education, Dungeons and Dragons stands as a testament to the transformative potential of games in the classroom, paving the way for a new era of experiential learning.
If you want to bring these concepts into your classroom and improve teaching and learning, register for our new professional learning experience, Immersive Storytelling: Reaching Reluctant Readers and Promoting SEL. This program will equip you with the tools and strategies to harness Dungeons and Dragons and other immersive storytelling experiences to engage your students and enhance their learning experiences. Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to transform your classroom and unlock your students’ full potential.
#ImmersiveStorytelling #SEL #StudentEngagement #CriticalThinking #Literacy #Mathematics #ReluctantReaders #EdTech #STEM #TeachingStrategies #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd #Innovation #Learning
This blog post was written by Du Bui, STEM Consultant for Kent ISD and edited by Amanda Walma, Marketing and Communications Specialist for T&L at Kent ISD.
Works Cited
- Simkins, David & Steinkuehler, Constance. (2008). Critical Ethical Reasoning and Roleplay. Games and Culture – Game Cult. 3. 333-355. 10.1177/1555412008317313.
- Rosselet, J. G., & Stauffer, S. D. (2013). Using group roleplaying games with gifted children and adolescents: A psychosocial intervention model. International Journal of Play Therapy, 22(4), 173–192. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034557
- Wayne D. Blackmon (1994). Dungeons and Dragons: The Use of a Fantasy Game in the Psychotherapeutic Treatment of a Young Adult. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 48 (4), 624-632. Reprinted, with permission of the Association for the Advancement of Psychotherapy, at http://www.rpgstudies.net/blackmon/dungeons_and_dragons/.
- Deterding, Sebastian, and José Zagal. Roleplaying Game Studies: Transmedia Foundations. Google Books, Routledge, 17 Apr. 2018.
- Video Games and Well-Being. Edited by Rachel Kowert, Cham, Springer International Publishing, 2020.
- Sören Henrich & Rachel Worthington (2023) Let Your Clients Fight Dragons: A Rapid Evidence Assessment regarding the Therapeutic Utility of ‘Dungeons & Dragons,’ Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 18:3, 383-401, DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2021.1987367
- Jacinto, Kyle. (2018). How Dungeons and Dragons Benefit College Students.
- Gygax, and Arneson. Dungeons & Dragons: Rules for Fantastic Medieval Wargames Campaigns Playable with Paper and Pencil and Miniature Figures. 1974.