Fostering assertiveness through role-play gaming case study

Instructional designers piloted a programme to determine if role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons would be appropriate settings for teaching and learning certain skills, such as assertiveness, through the course of game play. Two phases of the pilot were conducted, the first as a beta test to determine feasibility, the second with a planted player who provided opportunities for the other participants to demonstrate assertive behaviour. Pre-post assertiveness questionnaires showed that the second-phase participants did show gains in assertive behaviour. Challenges and opportunities for future research are also discussed.