In England, only 23% of FE learners who retake GCSE English Language examinations achieved a Grade 4 or above prior to the Covid Pandemic (DfE, 2020). Three years on, and after two years of Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs), this figure still only stands at 25.9% (Camden, 2023). Some of the potential barriers which prevent learners from achieving GCSE Grade 4 or above, can include lack of student engagement and motivation, a lack of confidence and a deep, profound and enduring sense of failure and loss of learners’ confidence in themselves. The same barriers can also contribute to widening the disparity between a learner’s spoken and written language. Within the Awarding Body (AB), AQA GCSE Language examination paper, the idea of stories and storytelling plays a pivotal part. Half of the total marks available in the AQA examination come from analyzing a piece of creative writing and then asking the learner to create their own. This research puts the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) to work as a pedagogic device in the development of GCSE English Language. Working with a cohort of GCSE Resit learners in a large college in London, this study explores the development of learners’ spoken language techniques through collaborative storytelling. It then invites learners to apply this knowledge and skills to the creative writing element of the AQA GCSE examination. Dungeons and Dragons offers an immersive, first-hand creative experience of language development and language use in the form of storytelling activity that enables learners to create and embody characters in a fantasy world, In this world where learners can be different and do things they would never normally encounter in their everyday lives and do so in a safe place without fear of failure. As such, this study also examines the role of story and storytelling in developing our understanding of ourselves, each other, the world we live in and the qualities of mind and character which enable us to lead more fulfilled lives. Aristotle (324-322 BC) asks us to consider the question of how we should live in order to be happy. He describes the development of the qualities of mind and character that enable human beings to be happy and to live fulfilled lives as “virtues”. This small-scale, qualitative study presents accounts of the lived experiences of learners as they engage in D&D activity, as well as my own.

Speaker: Tom Mudd

Published in: Ireland International Conference on Education (IICE-2024)

• Date of Conference: 2-4 April, 2024
• DOI: 10.20533/IICE.2024.0016
• ISBN: 978-1-913572-70-9
• Conference Location: Dún Laoghaire, Ireland