Originally developed as an extension of The Distinct Self Personal & Social Development Local Programme course cycle – a well-being curriculum program of life-skills electives for adult readiness at The English Montreal School Board in Quebec – RPGs in Schools program has now gone on to form a thriving life of its own in schools across the world by teacher-gamers at all levels of education.
Glenn Chickering, then Head of Upper School, Green School:
“The main objective of the most recent Introduction to Roleplaying Games class was to explore collaboration in our Middle School with kids 11-14. Students reported in an end-of-class survey, that among 15 collaborative skills they worked with they developed the most enrichment in communication, critical thinking, storytelling, creativity, empathy, risk assessment and a clearer understanding between general skill and expertise. Students were working on finding confidence alone, feeling stronger together and as a team – sharing responsibility for common goals. Role-playing challenged students to take initiative, consider each other’s perspectives and collaborate in a game simulation where their characters would only survive by working together.
The students had a blast: There was perfect attendance by all 12 students for the first five classes and 100% of them reported that they 'liked learning how to play role-playing games.'”
It is spreading through the confidence of teachers realizing themselves to be or training to be teacher-gamers. As a pioneer of this movement, I have created 6 videos that highlight the program's implementation, experimentation and success at the world famous alternative school Green School Bali (in both high school and middle school), as a home school aggregate program for multiple home schools in Bali and also at Pelangi and Empathy Bali (middle schools).
All these RPGs in Schools programs have been connected to Mindfulness ramps and Wilderness Conservation Trips life-skills development programs.
The Teacher-Gamer Revolution has also been successful as specialized community projects featured in the England with LIFEbeat UK youth camps and in Shanghai at Create China Coaching Center.
Connect with teacher-gamers globally that are currently working with schools to bring RPGs into schools and learning environments by joining the "Teacher-Gamers and RPG Trainers" Facebook Group to ask questions, share your experiences and build partnerships. Follow the @teachergamerhandbook Instagram page. Train at Da Vinci Life-Skills to build your confidence and get a Teacher-Gamer Certificate.
