Materials Needed:

Players will need to own/download a copy of the following Roblox Games. As a group, we will be playing a different combination of games each week. Some gaming options include but are not limited to the following as we take learner requests on a regular basis:

Players will need to access the Outschool Classroom and the game simultaneously throughout gameplay and may need more than one device to do so. 

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Roblox

Please note that some of the games played in Teen Roblox Nights have a more mature theme. Depending on the week, our gaming sessions will contain a mix of light-hearted fun games as well as those within the horror genre. 

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This is a high-energy experience. Please note, high-energy gaming may not be a good fit for everyone, some learners may prefer and need a quieter format that is more instruction-based. 

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This is a learner-directed social life skills session and not a “learn how to play” instructional course.

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Learners will be sharing their usernames with the instructor. A lot of learners also want to connect with each other outside of class. 

For Safety And Security please remind and help your learner to:
1. Not to friend request others from class or during class (without following the guidelines in the link below)
2. Only to join me in the class they are enrolled in on Roblox and not during other classes I may be running
3. *Unfriend Me* once you stop the subscription to this class. Learners tend to change usernames often and it is requested that they unfriend me once they stop the subscription to this class with your help as needed.  

Should you like your learners to build friendships outside of class please use the guidance in the following link by scrolling down to the 'Staying in touch after class section:

https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/2086860-how-to-use-outschool-as-a-parent

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What about teen socialization?

Amazing progress and goals can be achieved through gamification! This is not a "how to socialize" instructional class. The way learners present themselves during class will always be honored and respected and is absolutely their choice. In all of my gaming classes, learners lead the way in how *they* choose to present themselves lowing them to make their own informed decisions on how they want to socialize and game. This approach allows personal social goal-setting. Learners can choose to practice different social styles in a safe and inclusive setting to see what clicks well with them. Those who are on the introverted side are honored and respected just as much as those on the extroverted side and everything in between! No one will ever be put on the spot to present themselves in ways in which they are not comfortable by me or by others. We are all works in progress!

Gaming with live groups, in moderated and supervised settings, offers a safe and inclusive space for learners and gamers to be faced with many real-life decisions, challenges, and goals. Through my classes, without handholding, I encourage gamers to take the lead and navigate these challenges safely, at a pace, and in social ways that they choose and are comfortable with. By choosing their social approach and style, learners gain confidence, independence, and autonomy. 

Social skills like patience, empathy, leadership, conflict resolution, how to ask for help, how to help others, confidence and even just being happy with being yourself are practiced in class as opportunities arise. 

As a National Certified Counselor, my training includes a gradual approach to easing teens into new social groups, similar to that of easing a new fish into a fish tank. This approach is used for all sessions allowing new member gets a feel for the environment, our gaming world, and the communication styles of other players. 

Each session allows players to naturally gain independence and autonomy by letting *them* choose what style of socialization and gaming they prefer.

In class, we have a wide variety of gamers with different social norms. Some are very outspoken and continually speak up during class while others prefer to communicate by typing in the chat with one another and some simply enjoy being a part of our group while quietly playing along in ways that are comfortable for them.

Essentially, I foster a stress-free environment where learners have a comfortable and inclusive space to simply be *who they are and how they choose to be* in social settings without pressure. This approach builds stronger connections with others but most importantly creates a sense of confidence, independence, autonomy, and a feeling of belonging without having to change who they are. 

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A Note About Technology and Troubleshooting During This Class

Before enrolling in this session please be aware that this is not a tech class. This is a heavily “kid-powered” Life Skills and Social Class. Out of respect for all learners and families, very little time is allotted to assist in connection/technology issues.  This includes most components of online/group gaming, mics issues, headphone issues, Zoom, Wifi connections, and all components of online/group gaming. Learners and their families:

*Must* have a basic knowledge of the technology and devices used in each individual home. Due to the wide variety of devices and technology, the teacher holds no responsibility for the troubleshooting or tech support of learners who have difficulties connecting to the games/servers used in this class. Families are welcome to do research during class to help their learners troubleshoot when tech issues arise during class. If a learner or family experiences sound, mic, and issues related to Zoom the teacher may be able to assist. If the teacher cannot help efficiently please reach out to Outschool Support.  

*Must* know how to access and effectively use and/or add the private servers and/or online games used in this class. Please do research and work with your learner *before* class on how to connect with the teacher with usernames if needed, connect to/add private servers if necessary, type in-game codes if needed, and all components of online gaming.  Many of these gaming classes are high-energy, social, and move quickly. Out of the respect for all learners who are here to game, practice life skills, and socialize, in-class time cannot be spent on extensive tech support and troubleshooting. That being said, we sometimes have helpful learners in our groups. As part of the life skills component, they may be invited to exercise their leadership skills to assist with tech to the extent of their knowledge. Please note, the teacher or learners are in no way responsible for conducting extensive tech support. 

*Must* understand that at times learners and families will experience server and in-game technical issues which are out of the teacher’s control. Additionally, to the ones listed above, other tech issues include learners disconnecting from games or servers and learners unable to connect/re-connect to servers due to unforeseen circumstances.  

*Must* understand that during a loss in a game and/or disconnection issues some learners may have to wait for one game to end before joining another round. Wait times vary as some games may take longer at times to conclude depending on the number of players and skill levels. 

*Must* be aware that out of respect of learners and their families and in order to preserve the security and safety of all learners class recordings are only shared with the Outschool Trust and Safety Teams. All Class Recording Requests will be denied. 

*Must* be aware that the “mute all” button is used at times when gaming. Please remind your learner that if they are not heard they may be muted or have mic issues. Learners are free to unmute when they are able and when mute is not required for the game. Also, note if a learner does not get a reply from other learners or the teacher there may be tech issues involved where the learner was not heard. Some learners are more soft-spoken and may need to increase their mic volumes when speaking. Another option is to use in-game chat when available. If a learner does not get a response they may also use Zoom Chat to connect with the teacher.