Philosophers Gaming Club: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Edition (Ages 13-18)
Teens race together on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Switch, discussing passions, growth, and life’s big questions -- guided in positive conversation by a life coach. Join with a Switch or just chat and watch. Fun meets meaningful talk!
Bobby Vincench | Free Minds Thrive Academy
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(12)
What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per weekGrading
The life confidence coach leading these club sessions will provide feedback and updates on learner engagement and personal growth every so often, or at the request of parents/guardians.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner - Advanced Level
Get ready to rev up your engines and your mind in this unique online club for teens ages 14-18! In this gaming club, we’ll hit the tracks of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch for 45 minutes of fast-paced fun while diving into meaningful conversations. Topics will range from personal interests and passions to personal development and growth, life challenges and goal setting, deep philosophical questions, and more—all while racing through Rainbow Road or dodging blue shells! This club was designed by an experienced and certified life confidence coach to blend the excitement and strategy of gaming with thoughtful positive discussions that inspire self-discovery and connection. Don’t want to play? No problem! You can join the session without racing, participate in the conversation, and watch the action unfold on the educator’s screen, which will be shared via Zoom. Here's how each session will go down: We'll start by setting up our individual Nintendo Switches with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, then connect to our online game together, then lay out a general topic or theme of discussions for the session, then start the competition and discussions! Whether you’re a Mario Kart pro or just here for the vibes, this club offers a fun, laid-back space to build skills—both in gaming and in life. Grab your controller, bring your thoughts, and let’s race toward growth together!
Learning Goals
Develop communication skills by discussing personal interests and life challenges and forward-looking solutions with peers in a positive way.Practice goal-setting strategies while reflecting on personal growth during gameplay.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Age Rating Guidance:
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). This means it’s considered suitable for players of all ages, with content that’s generally family-friendly.
For the club, the requirement of a Nintendo Switch, the game, and online multiplayer functionality aligns with the age group’s typical gaming capabilities. The ESRB notes that online interactions are not rated, but this club’s structure — using Zoom with an educator moderating — helps ensure a more controlled environment.
Content of Discussions:
The club involves teens racing or watching Mario Kart 8 Deluxe while discussing topics like personal interests, personal development, life challenges and positive forward-looking solutions, goal setting, and deep philosophical questions. Here’s what parents should consider:
1. Emotional Maturity: These topics can range from light (such as favorite hobbies) to heavy (such as perceived life challenges or philosophical discussions about existence).
2. Moderation and Safety: With an educator facilitating, discussions are likely to stay constructive and appropriate. The educator will do his best to handle sensitive topics or emotional disclosures to ensure a supportive tone, as well as to guide potentially-sensitive conversations into a more appropriate positive direction.
3. Relevance to Development: The mix of gaming and discussion offers a chance for teens to build communication skills, self-awareness, and empathy, which are valuable at this age.
4. Time and Balance: At 45 minutes, the club balances gaming and talking, keeping it engaging without being too demanding.
Practical Tips for Parents:
- Check In: Ask your teen about the discussions after a session to understand the tone and content.
- Set Expectations: Encourage them to share comfortably but remind them they don’t have to overshare or engage with everything shared by others.
- Tech Prep: Ensure the Switch and internet setup work smoothly beforehand to avoid frustration during the club time.
- Flexibility: If your teen opts to watch rather than play, they will have the ability to view the educator's screenshare but may feel they are missing part of the experience.
Supply List
Requirements: - Nintendo Switch gaming console - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game - Nintendo Switch Online paid membership - Stable high-speed internet connection - Optional: Join without playing to enjoy the chat and watch via Zoom
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Age-appropriate educational and motivational YouTube videos may sometimes be viewed prior to thee gaming aspect of club sessions in order to inspire and generate ideas for discussion.
Joined February, 2024
4.9
12reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I'm an experienced and certified personal/life coach (Master Certified by the Certified Life Coach Institute) with a focus on confidence, creative and critical thinking, gratitude, clarity, intentionality, truth, resilience, and taking action in one's life. I host virtual group coaching sessions for my adult clients that share the essential principles offered in this teen club. I have personal experience inspiring older teens in my life to think clearer and deeper about their life and future (to be more intentional, focused and confident), and have helped them work through their thoughts and ideas in a way that empowers them with newfound confidence. I've also taught separate critical thinking and life purpose classes for teens on Outschool, and have spent time observing and learning from an experienced former public school teacher (current homeschool teacher) of teenagers in order to get an even deeper understanding of the unique learning needs of this age group to offer the most value possible to students.Reviews
Live Group Class
$16
weekly1x per week
45 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-12 learners per class
