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Games enable children to practice emotions in spaces that are free from actualized consequences. With thoughtful guidance, games can help children manage emotions, perspective-take, demonstrate empathic concern, and exhibit prosocial behaviors.
Emerging research suggests that these competencies-also known as social and emotional learning (SEL) skills-are, in fact, teachable. In Gaming SEL: Games as Transformational to Social and Emotional Learning, Matthew Farber investigates the rich opportunities games have in supporting SEL skill development. Experts from the fields of education, game development, and SEL-including folks from CASEL, the Fred Rogers Center, Greater Good in Education, iThrive Games, Minecraft Education, and UNESCO MGIEP-share advice.
Games themselves cannot be responsible for children's learning. Having a supportive educator or caregiver guiding experiences can be crucial. This book also includes recommendations for embedding games in classrooms in ways that support meaningful SEL skill development. Regardless of your experience, content area, or grade level, this book is for you!
List of contents
Foreword: Anantha Kumar Duraiappah, Founding Director, UNESCO MGIEP - List of Figures - Acknowledgments - Introduction - About This Book - Links, Lessons, and Games - References - How Mister Rogers Taught Us to Feel - An Exploration of Social and Emotional Learning - How Games Give Players "The Feels" - Empathy Games - Mindful, Kind, and Compassionate - Ethics, Perspective- Taking, and Teen Identity - Co-op Play, Teamwork, and Relationship Skills - How Making Games Supports Self-Awareness - Index.
About the author
Matthew Farber, Ed.D. is an assistant professor at the University of Northern Colorado, where he directs the Gaming SEL Lab. He has been invited to the White House, authored several books and papers, and is a frequent collaborator with UNESCO MGIEP and Games for Change.
Summary
In an engaging and readable tone, Farber explores key research about games and SEL. Teachers, game designers, and experts from CASEL, the Fred Rogers Center, Greater Good in Education, iThrive Games, Minecraft Education, UNESCO MGIEP, Harvard’s EASEL Lab, and more share advice.
Report
"Gaming SEL takes us into a fascinating and resourceful journey exploring the development of social and emotional skills (more specifically in children) and the ways in which games can support social and emotional learning (SEL). Matthew Farber summarizes the results of empirical research and gathers the expertise of dozens of academics, researchers, educators, and game designers to digest it all in a very approachable way for the reader. Using a multitude of examples from board games to video games, he also offers a compelling guide for harnessing the emotional and engaging power of games for SEL. This book is a must-read for teachers, parents, and anyone interested in understanding why and how games can foster a growth mindset, allow us to experiment with emotions and interpersonal relationships safely, and support our overall emotional well-being."-Celia Hodent, PhD in psychology, game UX consultant; author of The Gamer's Brain and The Psychology of Video Games
