The Australian Curriculum
The video below is a short introduction to Dungeons and Dragons, what it is and how it is useful in education. If the video does not work on your browser, you can also view it in my YouTube channel. Please follow the link which will open up in a new window: Introduction to Dunegons and Dragons in Education
i have also included the captions next to the video in case you cannot see the video or the captions.
1
00:00:00:72
Hi. My name is Buket Swain
2
0:00:02.760
and I would like to talk to you today about Dungeons and Dragons
3
0:00:06.260 and how I would like to use it in education with my students
4
0:00:10.220
So, what is Dungeons and Dragons?
5
0:00:12.600
Dungeons and Dragons is a role playing game set in the fantasy universe.
6
0:00:18.200
It is a game of chance
7
0:00:20.800
It's a game of maths. It's a game of story telling.
8
0:00:24.460
Decision making, working together as a team and solving problems.
9
0:00:30.220
It's a game where you need the dungeon master, me, to set the setting for a story
10
0:00:38.000
and have other characters that play within that setting within that story.
11
0:00:44.280
working together.
12
0:00:45.640
You can start off by, something like this, the starter set.
13
0:00:53.780
It comes with everything you need to learn to play and run the game.
14
0:01:03.080
It has in it... The adventure... itself. So this will detail where it takes place, who are the other players in the campaign.
15
0:01:17.600
It has the starter set rule book which gives you all the rules you need to play.
16
0:01:23.860
And there are a few!
17
0:01:26.580
It comes with the character sheets.
18
0:01:28.980
Some are already ready prepared.
19
0:01:33.160
But especially in an educational setting, it is actually really good for the students to think about their own
20
0:01:38.760
characters and work out all these numbers. There is a bit of maths involved to come up with your character!
21
0:01:46.080
Because this sheet tells you all the attributes and skills that your character can do or cannot do.
22
0:01:52.840
So it's really important for them to go through that process.
23
0:01:57.320
The sheets come blank.
24
0:02:00.820
Like that.
25
0:02:02.300
And then you use dice to come up with the numbers.
26
0:02:05.600
Which is a whole different video which I will do at some point!
27
0:02:09.520
And then you use dice.
28
0:02:12.400
This is my set.
30
0:02:15.140
Normally, there's seven of them
31
0:02:17.360
The most used one is this one which is a d20 - twenty sided dice.
32
0:02:22.340
And all the decisions the characters make and the skills tests that they do depend on this dice.
33
0:02:29.840
Then there is a d12 - 12 sided die
34
0:02:34.780
D8 - 8 sided die
35
0:02:38.400
d4 - which is painful to step on, worse than LEGO.
36
0:02:43.920
D6
37
0:02:47.120
These two, I love these two. They are d10 - 10 sided dice.
38
0:02:52.040
One has the units and the other has the tens on it.
39
0:02:55.200
So I use these a lot on just pure maths.
40
0:02:56.920
Coming up with percentiles, or doing addition and subtraction, just generating random numbers
41
0:03:03.500
Just gives the kids more control rather than just doing that from a piece of paper.
42
0:03:08.200
And then, it is a game of theatre of the mind.
43
0:03:11.660
So, the Dungeon Master explains what is going on
44
0:03:15.940
explains what the players can see and can hear
45
0:03:20.960
and the players have to respond with what they are doing, describing so a lot of descriptive language
46
0:03:28.360
It takes a while for the student to get into the habit of thinking about everything they have to think about.
47
0:03:37.360
But having said that,
48
0:03:39.620
Especially for combat section, it is good to have visuals.
49
0:03:45.960
Because there are rules about how far you can move. Each square tends to be about 5ft
50
0:03:54.040
and then each character will have a certain number of feet that they are allowed to move.
51
0:03:58.740
So, it's good to have that map with them moving and counting in 5s.
52
0:04:05.040
So, they might want to use some miniatures.
53
0:04:09.720
to visualise their characters.
54
0:04:13.560
So I have a few different ones.
55
0:04:16.140
This is one I have painted. It's the only one I have painted.
56
0:04:20.700
and even that is a good skill for them to have. A little bit of arts and crafts to paint their own miniatures.
57
0:04:27.340
There's an orc.
58
0:04:31.260
And a dwarf riding a bear. Why not?
59
0:04:38.780
So! That was a little bit about Dungeons and Dragons.
60
0:04:41.460
A game of theatre of the mind, start telling a little bit of maths.
61
0:04:45.640
It has a lot of opportunity to bring literacy and numeracy into the game.
62
0:04:50.160
and I am just keeping this video short and I will make other videos about, examples of how I have
63
0:04:55.760
actually brought maths and literacy into the story.
64
0:05:00.380
Thank you for listening.
00:00:00:72
Hi. My name is Buket Swain
2
0:00:02.760
and I would like to talk to you today about Dungeons and Dragons
3
0:00:06.260 and how I would like to use it in education with my students
4
0:00:10.220
So, what is Dungeons and Dragons?
5
0:00:12.600
Dungeons and Dragons is a role playing game set in the fantasy universe.
6
0:00:18.200
It is a game of chance
7
0:00:20.800
It's a game of maths. It's a game of story telling.
8
0:00:24.460
Decision making, working together as a team and solving problems.
9
0:00:30.220
It's a game where you need the dungeon master, me, to set the setting for a story
10
0:00:38.000
and have other characters that play within that setting within that story.
11
0:00:44.280
working together.
12
0:00:45.640
You can start off by, something like this, the starter set.
13
0:00:53.780
It comes with everything you need to learn to play and run the game.
14
0:01:03.080
It has in it... The adventure... itself. So this will detail where it takes place, who are the other players in the campaign.
15
0:01:17.600
It has the starter set rule book which gives you all the rules you need to play.
16
0:01:23.860
And there are a few!
17
0:01:26.580
It comes with the character sheets.
18
0:01:28.980
Some are already ready prepared.
19
0:01:33.160
But especially in an educational setting, it is actually really good for the students to think about their own
20
0:01:38.760
characters and work out all these numbers. There is a bit of maths involved to come up with your character!
21
0:01:46.080
Because this sheet tells you all the attributes and skills that your character can do or cannot do.
22
0:01:52.840
So it's really important for them to go through that process.
23
0:01:57.320
The sheets come blank.
24
0:02:00.820
Like that.
25
0:02:02.300
And then you use dice to come up with the numbers.
26
0:02:05.600
Which is a whole different video which I will do at some point!
27
0:02:09.520
And then you use dice.
28
0:02:12.400
This is my set.
30
0:02:15.140
Normally, there's seven of them
31
0:02:17.360
The most used one is this one which is a d20 - twenty sided dice.
32
0:02:22.340
And all the decisions the characters make and the skills tests that they do depend on this dice.
33
0:02:29.840
Then there is a d12 - 12 sided die
34
0:02:34.780
D8 - 8 sided die
35
0:02:38.400
d4 - which is painful to step on, worse than LEGO.
36
0:02:43.920
D6
37
0:02:47.120
These two, I love these two. They are d10 - 10 sided dice.
38
0:02:52.040
One has the units and the other has the tens on it.
39
0:02:55.200
So I use these a lot on just pure maths.
40
0:02:56.920
Coming up with percentiles, or doing addition and subtraction, just generating random numbers
41
0:03:03.500
Just gives the kids more control rather than just doing that from a piece of paper.
42
0:03:08.200
And then, it is a game of theatre of the mind.
43
0:03:11.660
So, the Dungeon Master explains what is going on
44
0:03:15.940
explains what the players can see and can hear
45
0:03:20.960
and the players have to respond with what they are doing, describing so a lot of descriptive language
46
0:03:28.360
It takes a while for the student to get into the habit of thinking about everything they have to think about.
47
0:03:37.360
But having said that,
48
0:03:39.620
Especially for combat section, it is good to have visuals.
49
0:03:45.960
Because there are rules about how far you can move. Each square tends to be about 5ft
50
0:03:54.040
and then each character will have a certain number of feet that they are allowed to move.
51
0:03:58.740
So, it's good to have that map with them moving and counting in 5s.
52
0:04:05.040
So, they might want to use some miniatures.
53
0:04:09.720
to visualise their characters.
54
0:04:13.560
So I have a few different ones.
55
0:04:16.140
This is one I have painted. It's the only one I have painted.
56
0:04:20.700
and even that is a good skill for them to have. A little bit of arts and crafts to paint their own miniatures.
57
0:04:27.340
There's an orc.
58
0:04:31.260
And a dwarf riding a bear. Why not?
59
0:04:38.780
So! That was a little bit about Dungeons and Dragons.
60
0:04:41.460
A game of theatre of the mind, start telling a little bit of maths.
61
0:04:45.640
It has a lot of opportunity to bring literacy and numeracy into the game.
62
0:04:50.160
and I am just keeping this video short and I will make other videos about, examples of how I have
63
0:04:55.760
actually brought maths and literacy into the story.
64
0:05:00.380
Thank you for listening.
The eight main areas of the curriculum are listed below. Resources and how the games can be linked to curriculum areas will be added to in the coming months.
The following table shows how an example game of Dungeons and Dragons can be relevant across the different curriculum areas. Imagine the team is tasked with taking a wagon of goods from a coastal city to a town in the mountains.
| Curriculum Area | Relevance | Worksheet Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Numeracy |
The game is based on rolling mainly a 20 sided dice and adding skill bonuses so there is quick mental maths being done constantly. In addition to this, the players can talk about the money being paid to them at the end of the quest or discuss the value of the good in the wagon. There in oppurtunity to calculate the distance between the two points of travel and how long it may take them to cover that distace dependant on the speed of the wagon. They might be paid a percentage of the value of goods that make it to the destination rather than a flat fee, |
Time, Distance, Speed Percentages Fractions |
| Literacy | The children can be given the task to recount their adventure for each session using descriptive words. During the game itself they orally explain their ideas and their actions to the gamemaster and other players using varied communicating skills. Their listening skills are utislised to keep up with the game master and the other players especially if the gamemaster chooses to run a theatre of the mind session rather than using visual aids. | Describing a setting Characterisation Use of adjectives Plannning a story |
| Science | As the fantasy setting is similar to our world there will be plenty of oppurtunities to bring in topoic in chemistry, biology and physics. Fighting itself will bring oppurtuniies to talk about forces. Biology and habitats of different creatures and monsters can be discussed as well as creation of alchemical potions. | Time, Distance, speed Force: use of weapons Talking about the flora and fauna in the game Chemistry of healing potions |
| Arts and Crafts | Painting OF miniatures Drawing and painting of characters, monsters and settings Buidling models building gadgets in game to solve problems |
Painting Buidling models building gadgets in game to solve problems |
| Languages | The game itself has many languages set in teh fantasy setting such as Elvish and Dwarfish. Real world languages the children are learning can be incorprated into the game and used when another language is required. Otherweise it is still good experience for children to be aware of a world with different languages and in game distinguish between characters speaking in different languages even if the actual players are still using English to communicate with. | Make a Glossary Make a Dictionary |
| Other | There are many other cross curricular elements that take place in game beyond academic subjects. Decision making, leadership, team work are all important skills as well as experience of living wor dying due to consequences! | 0 |
Below links are unfortunately are not operational currently. As content is added they will be leading to the relevant page for that curriculum area so please bear with us as we collate all the information together. Thank you for your patience.