**Before enrolling please note that Usernames/Gamer Handles will be seen by other learners enrolled.  At times gamer handles/usernames may have to be shared with the teacher to connect to each private server to participate in a specific game or class. Upon enrolling in any "Artful Gaming with Maryam Awan" classes, families are giving consent for their learners to participate in classes where gamer handles will be used and referred to by the educator and learners in class for class purposes only, as needed.  Learners are not to ask for or accept friend requests with one another per Outschool Trust and Safety Guidelines.**

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What separates Maryam Awan’s gaming classes from others? 

Let’s face it; teens get the short end of the stick. 

While children 12 and under have endless ways of socializing, teens are far too often clumped together with kids younger than them for convenience. 

The truth is teens desire a space of their own! 

While teens can get along and work well with younger kids, they are on a totally different plain. 

They have different social skills, different joking styles, different topics of conversation, and are definitely at a different maturity level than those younger than them. 

They want and deserve to have social outlets where they can be and act their age, with other teens, without holding back for younger children. 

This is where Maryam Awan’s classes come in. If you are looking for a genuinely teen-focused and relaxed safe environment for teens to exercise fundamental Life and Social Skills through gaming or to simply make friends, you are in the right place!

With Maryam Awan, teens (and mature 12-year-olds) not only spend time gaming with one another they are building genuine relationships while exercising social and life skills in ways that are entirely natural for them. 

Through supervision and the guidance of a National Certified Counselor and Bullying Prevention Specialist, teens finally have a safe place purely for themselves.  

Maryam Awan has been working with children and teens as an educator, counselor, life coach, and mod for over twenty years and has successfully helped teen after teen build social communities with one another casually and effectively through her gaming classes and social hours. 
So hit the pause button on life and enroll your teen in one of her fun classes today! 


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Back by popular demand, it's time to ring in the New Year, Teen Social Game Night Style!

We had such a blast the last two years it's time to do it all over again! Get ready for a lot of celebration and laughter, during this one-time, three-hour, special event, where avid gamers will log on to a variety of fun online multiplayer games while waiting for the ball to drop!

What better way to pass the time than playing a variety of fun multiplayer games, in a chill and inclusively safe space with a group of like-minded teens?

Teen learners will need to have access to the following games to log onto supervised and safe private lobbies to participate:

Among Us 
Roblox Games
Gartic Phone
Other Online Gaming and more!
Games TBD Closer to the Game Night

No need to log on to "sus" public lobbies. Here you will find moderated inclusive, respectful, and logical gameplay in a chill environment, the perfect setting for friendly gamers who appreciate strategic gameplay while having a good time enhancing beneficial life skills.

Please note, this is a learner-directed special event and not a “learn how to play” instructional course. The focus from the instructor is on moderating the inclusivity, respect, communication, and engagement between gamers to assure everyone is included and respected in a safe gaming space rather than how well the instructor is at individual games. 


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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.