Roll for Initiative: How my Love of TTRPGs Transformed my Teaching

Outline

Introduction (5 minutes)

Briefly share personal experiences with TTRPGs and their impact on teaching.

Icebreaker Activity: “What’s Your Character?”
Participants describe their favorite TTRPG character in one sentence to spark interest and establish connections.

Understanding TTRPGs and Their Educational Benefits (15 minutes):

Define TTRPGs and their core mechanics (role-playing, storytelling, collaboration).

Discuss benefits for student engagement, critical thinking, and creativity.

Integrating TTRPG Elements into the Classroom (30 minutes)

Present various strategies for incorporating TTRPGs into lesson plans:
Narrative development and character creation.
Collaborative problem-solving scenarios.
Integrating diverse narratives and perspectives.
Engagement Activities:

Using Technology to Enhance TTRPG Experiences (15 minutes)

Introduce digital tools for TTRPGs (e.g., Roll20, D&D Beyond) and how they can personalize and adapt learning experiences.

Live Demonstration:
Showcase one of the tools in real-time, guiding participants through basic features and how to set up a game.

Creative Challenge (10 minutes):
Participants individually create a character profile (using a provided template) that includes unique traits, backstory, and goals. Option to share in pairs.

Supporting research

Adventures in the Classroom Creating Role-Playing Games Based on Traditional Stories for the High School Curriculum on Traditional Stories for the High School Curriculum Csenge Virág Zalka, 2012

Chasing New Worlds: Stories of Roleplaying in Classroom Spaces Karis Jones, Scott Storm, Jennifer Castillo, & Sasha Karbachinskiy, 2021

ROLLING DICE AND LEARNING - USING ROLEPLAYING GAMES AS PEDAGOGY TOOLS Antonio Ruiz-Ezquerro, 2021

https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide/role-playing.shtml