Education and Analog Role-Playing Games: Theory and Pedagogy

Brings together scholars and educators who explore the educational potential of analog role-playing games (tabletop role-playing games and live action role-play) through the lens of pedagogical theory. These games trace their roots to educational war games and teaching aids. This volume goes further and takes a deeper dive into why they are such effective tools for learning, imagination, and identity development.

This volume offers a multidisciplinary analysis that draws on philosophy, history, psychology, and critical pedagogy. Contributors examine how analog role-playing games intersect with educational theories such as constructivism, pragmatism, and experiential learning and explore classroom and nontraditional learning contexts. The rich insights position analog role-playing games as rich sites for identity exploration, deliberation, and transformative practice.

Rather than simply advocating for gamification or offering how-to guides, this book critically interrogates how these games work, what they offer learners, and what pedagogical challenges they help us address. It is a valuable resource for educators, game scholars, and instructional designers interested in leveraging narrative, collaboration, and play for powerful learning experiences.