My RULES For Using Games in the Classroom

With so much discussion lately about President Obama's sweeping reforms to existing gun legislation, especially the mention of discourse around violent video games, I felt it appropriate to address some of the "common sense" rules that I use when deciding to use a video game in my classroom. 

To be clear, these rules are my rules and only apply to my classroom.  While they may be applicable to other classrooms, they can provide a framework or guide for you to create your own rules. 

1. Understand and follow the ESRB! - The Electronics Software Ratings Board goes to great lengths to rate video games for appropriate age levels.  Understanding these ratings and the ratings process will help you create a list of games appropriate for your classroom.  Go to www.esrb.org for more information.  
2. Tied to the Common Core! - Using video games are a great way to engage students, but the game must be tied to the standards you are teaching in your class.  Choosing a video game to fill time or as an easy reward will diminish the impact the game could actually have on your students' learning. 
3. Research Appropriate Games! - If you haven't played a game, don't use it in your class!  Research games you plan to use before actually using them in class.  Watch walkthroughs of the game on YouTube or read reviews from several different websites. Gathering information about the game will only help you to prepare lessons for that game in your classroom. 
4. Listen to your students! - If your students are discussing a game, take note.  More often than not you will find that the students can help you create lessons around a game.  Minecraft is a good example of this.  Ask students what they know about a game then research it on your own to determine if it is appropriate for use in your class. 
5. Correspond with Parents! - In light of the recent controversy surrounding violence in the media and video games, it is appropriate to explain to parents why you are using a game in class and to explain your plans, the standards you address, and the outcomes of the lessons. 

Using video games as learning tools can engage students and create a learning environment that is not only academically rigorous but also fun.  Following the rules above will help teachers to make educated decisions about using video games as learning tools.  It's important to remember that the majority of video games on the market are not violent and do not fall into the Mature category.  It's up to the teacher to discover the appropriate games to engage students.