Using Video Games to Level Up Collaboration for Students A Fun, Practical Way to Support Social-emotional Skills Development

Using Video Games to Level Up Collaboration for Students provides a research-informed, systematic approach for using cooperative multiplayer video games as tools for teaching collaborative social skills and building social connections. Video games have become an ingrained part of our culture, and many teachers, school leaders and allied health professionals are exploring ways to harness digital games–based learning in their schools and settings. At the same time, collaborative skills and social inclusion have never been more important for our children and young adults. Taking a practical approach to supporting a range of learners, this book provides a three-stage system that guides professionals with all levels of gaming experience through skill instruction, supported play and guided reflection. A range of scaffolds and resources support the implementation of this program in primary and secondary classrooms and private clinics. Complementing this intervention design are a set of principles of game design that assist in the selection of games for use with this program, which assists with the selection of existing games or the design of future games for use with this program. Whether you are a novice or an experienced gamer, Level Up Collaboration provides educators with an innovative approach to ensuring that children and young adults can develop the collaborative social skills essential for thriving in their communities. By using an area of interest and strength for many individuals experiencing challenges with developing friendships and collaborative social skills, this intervention program will help your school or setting to level up social outcomes for all participants.

1. Setting the scene for digital games-based intervention 2. Research informing Level Up Collaboration 3. Getting started with the Level Up Collaboration intervention 4. Stage A - Using explicit skill instruction and video review 5. Stage B - Promoting interactions during cooperative gameplay 6. Stage C – Guided reflection 7. Introducing 15 Target Skills 8. Assessing collaboration during play 9. Game design that creates the conditions for collaboration 10. A guide to existing video games suitable for social skills intervention

Matthew Harrison is an experienced educator and researcher with a passion for utilising technology to enhance social learning and inclusion. He has taught in Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Matthew is currently lecturing in Learning Intervention at the University of Melbourne.