In a press release today, Wizards of the Coast detailed its plan to aid classrooms through a partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org. Through an application on the AdoptAClassroom website, teachers can apply to receive one of 200 $100 rewards to pay for expenses in 4-12 grade classrooms. Winners also receive an official D&D library, including:
- Player’s Handbook
- Dungeon Master’s Guide
- Monster Manual
- Candlekeep Mysteries
- D&D Essentials Kit
- D&D Campaign Cases – both Creatures and Terrain
- D&D Afterschool Club Kit, including a copy of D&D Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Apple did the same thing with computers in schools and Google’s doing the same thing with Chromebooks right now. I honestly thought this is more of a PR thing to help their image. I don’t think 200 schools just is enough to actually move the needle. This could be a pilot program though. I have a hard time seeing how this could be used in the actual classroom. As an elective definitely but I don’t see history teachers using DND and having to write a lesson plan around it and all the accomodation paperwork for anyone with an IEP. Some teachers already find that stuff a pain in the butt for traditional lesson plans. Who knows though it could happen.