A word about using games in the classroom

Like any other lesson or learning activity, getting the most educational value out of an online game requires some thoughtful planning. In addition to all of the typical considerations that affect your regular lesson planning, there are a few things about games that must be taken into account.

eLECTIONS brings to life the process of running for president. It does not attempt to replicate all of the key issues of the 2008 campaign nor the real positions of voters in each state. While players choose to run as a Democrat or Republican, they do not have to adopt that party's current positions on the issues. Because states are randomly assigned positions on the issues at the start of each game, they may not have the same leanings as in real life.

Kids are used to figuring out how a game works by playing it, not by reading directions. For that reason, eLECTIONS has a virtual host, George Washington, to give players important information that affects game play. Still, the first time students play the game, most of their attention will be directed to the mechanics of the game, rather than the content.

• You can let students play the game through once, answer any questions they have. Then have them play again, this time paying closer attention to the content and learning objectives.



• You can do a whole class demonstration of the game, familiarizing students with game play and modeling the type of thinking you expect from them when they are playing.



• You can have students play a turn or two and then stop the game. The class can discuss what they did, compare notes, and begin to analyze what they're learning.



• Kids instinctively adapt their game strategy as they learn. Much of this mental processing happens automatically.

You'll want to bring those thought processes out in the open by building in opportunities for students to reflect on what they are learning.

The LEARN MORE section contains a lot of interesting and valuable information. However, a player can complete the game without ever diving into this content.

• As you design your lessons, make sure that the activities, worksheets, etc., require students to find information from the LEARN MORE section.



• See Vote Notes for ideas on using the LEARN MORE content to answer key questions or inspire further learning.

It's often difficult for players to analyze and reflect on what they might have learned from playing if they don't have a record of what they did. In eLECTIONS, players can print out a record of their game, allowing them to revisit the situations they encountered, the decisions they made, and the results of their actions.

eLECTIONS includes a Report Card feature that may be useful to teachers for verifying completion of game play and for limited assessment of student effort. There is quite a bit of luck by way of random computer selection involved in playing a game of eLECTIONS, so winning the Presidency in the game is not the true assessment of the students' "work". It is how the game is played that is the measure of effort and understanding

As in a real election, the platform chosen by the virtual candidate has a great impact on the eventual outcome. All of the states choose their positions on the issues randomly, so choosing a platform is not a measure of performance, but rather a great launching point for discussion!

The Report Card is a lengthy summary of the game events and how a player has handled each. It allows a player to recall the events of their game for the purposes of discussion and analysis. The only event in the game that is a clear indicator of performance is the fundraiser chosen. Players must choose fundraisers that do not conflict with their positions on the issues. If they choose a fundraiser that contradicts their campaign platform, the Report Card calls out an issue contradiction in the reporting of the turn-by-turn events. During game play this translates into less money raised and less money to spend in states to campaign. The computer digests this information and the consequence of spending less would be that a player may then not be able to earn the electoral votes they need to win the election.

To a certain extent, the way in which a game card event is handled also can be measured. Doing nothing or going on vacation may not be appropriate responses to major developments in a campaign and though this action/reaction may be seen in real-life, it can be debated that an alternative action would have been better.

The Report Card is accessed and viewed on the final screen of the game after the Election Day results are in. The Print Report Card button appears at the bottom of the screen.

A little competition can add some extra sizzle to playing eLECTIONS. Each class could record and post how many electoral votes each candidate receives, with honors going to the highest score and biggest landslide.