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- [ N E W S ] - [ L I N K S ] - Reading, Writing & Roleplaying is an upcoming Escapist project devoted to using roleplaying as an educational tool, both in the classroom and out. The goal here is to create a home for examples,
methods, and ideas that will inspire anyone interested in teaching
through roleplaying. If you are an educator, game designer, or anyone
else interested in the subject matter and would like to participate,
please contact me at You can also visit the Reading, Writing, & Roleplaying discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reading_writing_RPG for updates and discussion on roleplaying and education.
May 27th, 2010 (link to this) JAPANESE "RPG" TEXTBOOKS FROM NAMCO BANDAI AND GAKKO TOSHO - This story from NetworkWorld about Japanese choose-your-own-adventure textbooks hit my inbox yesterday:
Japanese news outfit Asahi reports that Namco Bandai -- the Japanese role-playing game powerhouse behind the Tales series -- and textbook publisher Gakko Tosho have a partnership to produce textbooks laced with JRPG elements. The new textbooks in development for math, science, and language arts will hit classrooms as early as next spring.Because Namco Bandai is behind it, most people will connect this with video games - but it's much more like a tabletop RPG than anything else, and with a carefully planned format and teacher's guide, there wouldn't be any real concerns over students "cheating" the game. There are a lot of cues that could be taken from existing RPGs that would expand and improve upon this idea. This could be an incredible teaching tool that inspires kids to learn through roleplaying. It would be really nice to see Wizards of the Coast attempt something like this here in the US. Of course, we wouldn't have to wait around for WotC, would we? Pretty much anyone could take the initiative on something like this... (nudge, nudge)
September 4th, 2009 (link to this) TWO TESTIMONIES -Since school has (mostly) begun again
here in the United States, I've been putting out the call on Twitter
and on the Escapist
blog
for information from anyone who is running (or planning to run) RPGs
for kids at schools or libraries.
My plan (as always) is to gather stories, experiences, tips, and advice
that others can use if they want to organize such a program - and to
give a bit of a nudge to those who have been thinking about it and just
need a little push to get it started.
I received the following email from Dan (who, for privacy reasons, has
asked that I not name the school where he works):
I am the Network Administrator at a New England private high school. Last year, I ran a D&D game every other week. Almost all new players, a mix of freshmen and seniors. We played 4th edition, and started on Keep on the Shadowfell. We had about 6 regular players. The only issues we ran into were of a scheduling variety, as the underclassmen don't have a lot of unstructured time, and we don't quite get a 4 hour session, which leads me to the second problem. KotS was too long an adventure for an every other week 3 1/2-4 hr session game to fit comfortably in a school year.I also received an email a little while ago from Eric Basir, who ran the Marvel Super Heroes RPG for a small group of kids as an after-school role-playing club at a parochial school in Illinois. His description of it is too perfect not to share: My attempt to work with children, teens (and youthful adults) to use their imaginations to interact with one another in a make-believe environment with the purpose of promoting good manners, spirituality and righteous competition.He has collected the videos into two playlists - you can watch them here and here. That's all of the response I've seen so far, and while those are two excellent testimonies, I want MORE! Are you running any RPGs at schools or libraries? Share your knowledge and experience with us!
She also shares some insight on the challenges she has faced in turning a passion for roleplaying and education into a business. Read it here. December 2nd, 2008 (link to this) THE PLAY'S THE THING - The Associated Press released an article on the importance of play in education that gives a brief mention to fantasy role-play:Vivian Paley, a former kindergarten teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and now an author and consultant, says the most vital form of play for young children involves fantasy and role-playing with their peers. "They're inventing abstract thinking, before the world tells them what to think," Paley said in her speech to the conference. Read more here: article | archive
GAMA
- The website of the Game Manufacturer's Association
has several resources for educators interested in bringing many
different types of games - not only RPGs - into the classroom. You can
find out more at GAMA's Games
In Education page.
GAMA
also hosts The Origins
International Game Expo, held in Columbus Ohio every
summer, which features a program called the The program is open to teachers at all grade levels, resource center specialists, school librarians, principals, college professors, homeschoolers, and public librarians. You can find out more about the program at www.gama.org/programs/gie
“Reacting to
the
Past” (RTTP) consists of elaborate games, set in the past, in which
students are assigned ro les informed by classic texts in the history
of ideas. Class sessions are run entirely by students; instructors
advise and guide students and grade their oral and written
work. It seeks to draw students into the past, promote
engagement with big ideas, and improve intellectual and academic
skills.
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December 30th, 2008 (
Teacher's
Hall Pass. Educators receive a free 4-day convention pass, which grants
access to hundreds of game dealers (many of whom offer educator
discounts), and game demos of all kinds. Plus, you can relax in the
Teacher's Lounge, talk with other educators attending the convention,
and participate in special game demos that feature an emphasis on
lesson plans and learning goals.