A guide for educators on creating engaging learning experiences that effectively teach high school students interpersonal skills.
Give teens freedom and autonomy
Students value autonomy and choice, and feeling forced into activities hinders authentic engagement.
Create distance from daily life
Address serious issues implicitly to avoid confrontation, and maintain psychological safety by creating distance from everyday life.
Keep stakes low
Foster creativity and genuine learning by providing a safe and supportive environment that encourages exploration and experimentation without fear of failure.
Play first, explain later
Prioritize hands-on, experiential learning over detailed explanations, allowing students to enjoy and discover concepts on their own without feeling burdened by an "educational" label.
Make it fun and silly
Foster a lighthearted and fun environment in learning experiences, encouraging students to return willingly and promoting a growth mindset that embraces learning from mistakes.
Stimulate social connection
Students seek more social connection in school but find technology-driven interactions can sometimes lead to feelings of disconnection.
Give sense of anticipation & surprise
Incorporate unpredictability and a sense of surprise to break away from rigid routines, sparking curiosity and a desire to return to the learning experience to explore all possibilities.
Respect teens for their maturity
Respect teenagers as individuals during their crucial phase of development, avoiding infantilizing activities to maintain their motivation and engagement.
Leverage love for competition
Integrate light competition into games and activities to captivate and challenge teenagers, fostering critical thinking and a sense of purpose.
Promote active thinking during gameplay
Design activities that require strategizing, collaboration, and applying knowledge, creating a fun and educational gameplay experience that enhances interpersonal skills.
Need inspiration for designing learning experiences?
Explore a game concept that demonstrated the heuristics!