Gaming the System Before the presidential election took place
this week, many teachers used attention to the political drama
unfolding across the nation as a way to draw students into
classroom discussions and assignments. Lesson plans that focus
on elections have been around for decades to promote civic
education and other learning goals. However, the idea that video
games are a way to promote civic engagement and an understanding
of democratic systems is a newer idea, although role-playing
activities and strategic games around mock elections have long
been used in K-12 classes about government. And, as Joseph Kahne
pointed out in this DML interview, the correlation between
online politicking and offline activism or voter participation
can be difficult to prove. It may be easier to argue that the
election often emphasized competing rhetorical performances, and
therefore may be more useful as a model for education in public
speaking and strategic communication than for less self-
interested forms of civic virt