NOTE FROM TED: This talk contains a discussion of graphic violence and suicidal ideation.Most everyone has heard of the game Dungeons and Dragons, but few understand what it actually is and how it works. Fewer still comprehend the significant impact that D&D has had on our society, and almost no one knows the profound academic and therapeutic benefits contained within the game.D&D is educational by the nature of its design. The game is played with books! Reading and understanding text are critical to playing the game. D&D is scaffolded, differentiated and gradually released, just as should always be with lessons in school. Kade was among the first to bring to the surface the fact that the game had a very serious academic design and this concept has begun to flourish among academic and game communities as well as families looking for an impactful pastime.D&D also possesses amazing therapeutic power. It’s been used in studies by many mental health specialists for everything from Autism to Trauma. Kade has seen first hand in the educational setting how all these components work together to form a surprising, but powerful educational and therapeutic tool. Kade Wells has been using D&D, game-theory, and product-based, experiential learning in the classroom for twelve years. He plays D&D with his students on Friday’s, and they have grown above the normal measure as a result. His hope is to help people understand the great power that D&D has in educational settings. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx