Two educators within the Winnipeg school system are “gamifying” their classrooms, utilizing components of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) as a tool to explore subjects in a way students are excited to engage with.
Jonah Simmons, a substitute teacher, integrates D&D into his teaching to enhance student engagement and learning. A significant problem Simmons sees in classrooms he subs in is the shift in student-teacher relationships, where students don’t feel their voices are being heard. He says games are a way to better connect with students.
Curtis Bilewitch teaches grade nine English and runs a D&D club at Sisler High School. For him, D&D and similar games support cross-curricular education by merging storytelling, art, math, and strategic planning elements, preparing students for real-world collaboration and critical thinking. A significant benefit of gamification for student engagement, especially for shy or socially anxious students, is the motivation from a play environment in helping students feel part of a collaborative experience.
