Students learned how to win with humility, and how to lose with dignity.
Video sports games are not often associated with character education, but at Westbridge Academy, educators leverage students’ love for popular games to help teach patience, empathy, humility, and respect.
Classrooms at Westbridge are outfitted with a PlayStation 4 console, as well as both NBA 2K and Madden NFL. Through a schoolwide system of positive behavior supports, students earn opportunities to use the PlayStations. They earn game time by following through on individualized, student-centered social-emotional learning expectations and the physical education standards in their IEP.
But it is more than a reward, because character education lessons are embedded in the experience.
“We teach students to process their thoughts with feelings that would lead to positive behaviors. They learn the value of expectations and how to follow through,” said Abraham Mathew, Assistant Principal.
Many students at Westbridge struggle with the competitive nature of gaming and may act out inappropriately when they lose, or respond with extreme jubilation when they win. “By helping them understand and anticipate emotions, we teach them how to win with humility and how to lose with dignity,” he added.
Efforts like this are important for students at Westbridge.
“Many of our students find limited opportunities to showcase their talents due to their behavior manifestations. WBA recognizes the need to provide individually designed programs to enhance the potential for student success. Students feel safe when they express themselves at our school because they know they are not being judged.”
