Rules and Roles
Now tell students that one way we can keep from being upset when using screens is to follow rules.
Tell students that there are different kinds of rules.
Ask:
Is it okay to bump into another player’s car when you’re playing Mario Kart, or a similar racing video game?
Yes, in most games like that it’s part of the game, so it’s okay.
Could you change the rules so that it wasn’t okay?
Yes, if everyone wanted to play that way. (Some racing games don’t let you bump into other cars.)
Is it okay to hit your friend while you’re playing Mario Kart?
No, not even if you’re really mad at them.
Would it be okay to hit someone you didn’t know while playing Mario Kart?
No, it would still be wrong.
Could you change the rules so that it was okay to hurt people?
Explain to students:
Some rules tell us how to do something (like playing a game.) They make it easier to play because everyone agrees on what’s allowed and what isn’t. These rules can be changed if everyone agrees.
Some rules stop people from doing things that are wrong, like hurting people. These can’t change because those things don’t stop being wrong.
Now ask students to list rules that they follow when playing together in the classroom or the schoolyard. These should include both of the kinds of rules they just defined.
Prompting questions:
- What do you do if someone asks to join a game after it’s started?
- What do you do if somebody wants to stop a game (because they’re hurt, not having fun, etc.), but others want to keep playing?
- What do you do if two people want to use the same equipment (slide, swings, etc.) at the same time?
Now remind students of the earlier discussion about the differences between playing online and playing offline.
Ask students:
How many of the rules we just listed are helpful for playing online too?
What other rules could make playing online more fun?
What other rules could keep people from getting hurt when they’re playing online?
Remind students that it isn’t just our bodies that can be hurt – our feelings can be hurt too!
Ask students if they have ever done a similar exercise, in class or elsewhere. If so, ask them to reflect on what has changed since the last time they did.
