Oklahoma Virtual Charter School turns gaming and social media into studying instruments

TULSA, Okla. — For many college students, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch and video video games are already a part of their on a regular basis life.

Now, one Oklahoma college is utilizing those self same platforms and concepts to assist college students join with college and studying.

At Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, Middle School Principal Erin Goodridge calls the method “edutainment.”

Goodridge defined, “It’s essentially using [a] gaming entertainment style approach, bringing kids in and getting engaged in school and learning in a new way.”

Goodridge mentioned the thought turned particularly essential in a digital college atmosphere the place educators must be intentional about getting college students to log in and take part.

“You can get a kid through a door in brick and mortar, but you can’t force a kid to turn their laptop on.”

One instance of the college’s edutainment choices is a weekly Legend of Zelda livestream.

Goodridge, who describes herself as a gamer and an anime fan, makes use of a school-safe streaming platform to play the sport whereas college students watch and work together by means of the chat, microphones and cameras.

Students assist Goodridge resolve puzzles whereas academics monitor the dialog.

The sport itself turns into a software for working towards studying, problem-solving and important considering.

Students additionally learn textual content from the sport and, in some circumstances, tackle characters and browse parts of quests.

Goodridge mentioned the livestream additionally offers college students a possibility to see how an grownup handles challenges and failures.

“If I get stuck, they can watch ‘Well, how does Mrs. Goodridge handle it when she fails over and over and over again?'”

The classes prolong past the sport itself.

Teachers additionally use the livestream to show college students talk appropriately on-line and acknowledge what secure digital interactions seem like.

For Goodridge, the objective is not simply to easily make college extra entertaining. It’s about giving college students a purpose to really feel linked.

After surveying college students in regards to the Zelda livestream, Goodridge mentioned almost 80% reported feeling extra linked to highschool and their associates.

“The gaming is the hook, but the learning is the purpose.”

Goodridge mentioned the college has seen elevated engagement in dwell courses and different college actions, together with college students making new connections with their friends.

For college students who might have had damaging experiences in conventional college settings, she mentioned creating a spot the place they really feel profitable and linked may be an essential first step towards educational engagement.

The college can be giving college students alternatives to create their very own digital content material.

Last 12 months, the OVCA supplied a sport design course the place college students created their very own video games as a ultimate mission.

The college then opened the video games up for classmates and academics to beta check and supply suggestions.

Goodridge mentioned the tasks enable college students to create content material based mostly on what they’re studying whereas growing abilities by means of collaboration and peer evaluate.

Teachers are additionally utilizing acquainted social media codecs to show educational content material.

One trainer hosts a month-to-month “unboxing” modeled after movies college students may see on Instagram or TikTok.

The trainer opens an object whereas explaining its historical past, then college students take part in discussions about what they’re seeing.

The method comes as faculties throughout the nation debate how a lot know-how college students ought to use within the classroom.

Goodridge mentioned the main target must be much less on merely including extra know-how and extra on how know-how is getting used.

She acknowledges one of many greatest criticisms of edutainment is the concept college students are merely being given an excuse to play video video games.

However, Goodridge mentioned the distinction is intentionality.

“We’re not just sitting there and playing just for fun. I have specific goals I have for them.”

These targets embody literacy, problem-solving, web security and accountable on-line communication.

Ultimately, Goodridge hopes college students see college as one thing that may hook up with their pursuits and their future.

“School isn’t just sitting down at a desk and opening a book and writing out things. It can be, ‘I can be active my community. I can apply the things that I’ve learned in school directly into the real world.'”

For OVCA, the objective is to make use of the digital world college students already perceive as a doorway into studying, whereas ensuring the teachers stay the aim behind the leisure.