In the educational world, digital can bring new ways to engage students. The Kendir Studios blog has already discussed the many advantages of using gamification in the classroom and in self-study. Game dynamics have proven to be attractive, motivating and a great contributor to knowledge retention.
In this context, RPGs (role-playing games) can introduce an innovative approach that transforms the classroom into a new setting full of discovery.
What are role-playing games?
RPG is the name given to the genre of video games or tabletop games where players take on the role of one or more characters in a fictional setting - which can be of any kind. As the character, the player makes decisions that affect the development of the game.
RPG games most often include a story and character development, which allows players to fully immerse themselves in a virtual world and interact with other characters in the game environment. RPGs also include elements such as character customization, skill progression and free exploration of the world.
Advantages of using RPG games in education
1. Greater immersion and positive emotions
The ability to play characters with distinct characteristics leads to high levels of immersion and generates positive emotions, such as curiosity. This phenomenon creates less friction between study and leisure, blurring the line between the two and prolonging the time devoted by the student to study.
2. Reinforced motivation
Role-playing games encourage the player's concentration and motivation - and if the player is a student, an environment conducive to learning is created. Being able to get deeply involved in a game's story creates a greater interest in the academic content covered in the game.
3. Progression within the game
Role-playing games tend to progress in difficulty as you go along. Players can thus improve skills, interact with the game environment and complete missions, obtaining rewards and knowledge in the process.
4. Stimulating creativity
An interactive narrative stimulates students' creativity by placing academic content in new scenarios. Games are thus a platform for exploring unusual ideas and contexts.
5. Autonomy and immediate feedback
By autonomously exploring a new scenario, students have full control over their learning experience, evolving in the game at their own pace and receiving immediate feedback. This instant feedback helps to understand academic material and improve performance, as the act of immediately correcting a mistake improves retention.
How to use role-playing games in the classroom?
Adventure and role-playing games can be integrated into a traditional classroom and used as a tool to support formal teaching. The objectives of the game should be established and directly related to the age group of the students and the subject being taught at the time.
Furthermore, by introducing relaxation into the classroom context, this experience can be used to promote a number of positive factors, such as concentration, autonomy and positive attitudes towards learning.
In general, role-playing games can be used as a complementary tool to traditional teaching methods, providing a more engaging and interactive learning experience for students. Engaging and autonomous, this approach leads to higher levels of motivation, positive emotions and a sense of achievement.
Sources:
Nunes, E. (2022). Adventure and Roleplaying Architectures for Advanced Digital Learning Systems [White paper]. Kendir Studios.