Playing Ecology: Dungeon Maestra as Educational Model for Ecological Literacy

Jolanda di Nuzzo
1*
Flavia De Nicola
1
1
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, via dei Mulini, 73, Benevento, Benevento - 82100, Italia

This work is situated within the field of ecology education and addresses the theme of ecological literacy through an innovative approach based on active and participatory methodologies. The study presents the design of an educational role-playing activity entitled “Dungeon Maestra”, inspired by the dynamics of tabletop role-playing game "Dungeons & Dragons" based on the use of a 20-sided die. The creation of the game represents the core of the research and is accompanied by a meta-analysis of the relevant literature, which highlights the still limited number of studies specifically focused on ecological literacy, particularly in relation to the use of game-based and narrative methodologies.

The study aims to examine the impact of the proposed educational device on learning processes and on the development of ecological literacy competencies. Within this framework, a structured evaluation grid is designed and applied in order to systematically assess both cognitive learning outcomes and the participatory and decision-making dimensions activated during the gameplay experience, such as cooperation, engagement, and problem-solving skills.

The proposed model highlights the educational potential of narrative and game-based methodologies in sustainability education by promoting immersive, collaborative, and meaningful learning experiences. Furthermore, the flexibility of the proposal makes the model applicable in different educational contexts, contributing to the dissemination of innovative pedagogical practices aimed at fostering ecological citizenship and students’ active participation.

L’ecologia, tra società, educazione e sostenibilità
Premio per il miglior poster, Borse di partecipazione
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