Games like World of Warcraft give players the means to save worlds, and incentive to learn the habits of heroes. What if we could harness this gamer power to solve real-world problems? Jane McGonigal says we can, and explains how.

Outside the Box/Inside the Ring is a free 10-lesson curriculum initially targeted at the middle-school level. It was co-created by Joshua Gordon and Joseph Morrissey and Part of the Solution ADR Services in 2004-2005. The curriculum is designed to be activity driven (as opposed to lectures) and is available for download as a series of pdf files. Non-profits and educators are provided the material for non-commercial, educational use.

Some example lessons include:
Fair Factor: Do you have conflict resolution skills?
What’s up? An introduction to conflict.
Do you speak conflict? Building a common language and sharing experiences.
Dudes, whose shoes? Empathy and Outside the Box thinking.
Say what? How to communicate around conflict.
How can you win when I win?

This Youtube video has been prepared to introduce the curriculum by showing clips of participants in the pilot for the program.

This 5-minute video captures a conflict that develops between two middle school friends. It was developed by middle school filmmakers at Brooklyn Friends School for an annual video production competition known as the Bridge Festival.

This short trailer presents part of a PBS “In the Mix” episode on solutions to school violence. Shown is a high school student group participating in a conflict resolution workshop led by an experienced facilitator and social worker who encourages them develop their own solutions. After each student describes a recent conflict with a friend or family, they explore ways they commonly handle conflicts?avoiding, confronting, or problem solving and communication? One student points out that conflict can be an opportunity to strengthen relationships if dealt with properly; however it is difficult. The facilitator then helps them understand basic communication skills, including how to use “I” messages to open a discussion and what it takes to be a good listener. See another clip here – Learning How to Express — Not Explode!

This video from Edutopia shows how one Alaskan math teacher is combining Social Emotional Learning skills development with the teaching of math in his upper elementary classroom.

A song performed by storyteller Debbie Dunns aimed to let bullies know it is NOT okay to bully, teach witnesses what to do should they see a bully bullying, and tricks that victims should utilize to help them become bully free. (This song is sung to the tune of Sipping Cider Through A Straw learned at Camp Sky Wa Mo, a Girl Scouts camp, back when the presenter Debbie Dunns was a girl.)