cle put forth by the objective of the game. Finally, some video games are neither competitive nor collaborative but, instead, create a shared environment in which people can build, con- struct or otherwise create. These are known as sandbox games and although people can and do collaborate in these games, it is not a requirement to play as there is not necessarily an objective to win. Any of these types of games can be used to foster and support the learning of language using AAC. CHOOSING THE RIGHT GAME The game selection process mirrors the process for consider- ing technology to meet educational goals. When searching for a game to play, one considers the interests and abilities of the po- tential players before selecting. A person who likes superheroes or fantasy worlds, might like games with those elements baked into the design. If maps and mysteries are more your thing, then a different set of games might be appealing. Knowing what in- terests the people with whom you hope to play can help you select the right with the most appeal. Another strategy for se- lecting the right game would be to read or listen to reviews of games. There are several board game review podcasts available, such as the All The Bits podcast hosted by instructional design- er, Michelle Compton and Speech Language Pathologist, Shaun Pearson, which provide detailed explanations of games along with their own insights as to who might find the games fun to play. Any game can be used to promote language. Working to select games interesting to the player(s) will help maintain at- tention while working on language targets. LEARNING THE RULES Although most games still come with a written set of rules, a different modality to learn how to play a game can be to watch a video of someone explaining the rules. YouTube channels such as Watch It Played provide brief tutorials for how to play just about any game you can find or think of. The videos can be paused, rewound or watched repeatedly to help with com- prehension. Video tutorials also allow for a quick way to refresh one’s memory on how to play a game that hasn’t been played in a while. Videos can be watched at increased speeds to expe- rience the content in half the time. Another way to learn how to play a game is to watch others play it. Wil Wheaton’s Tabletop is a YouTube channel dedicated to watching different celebrities playing board games together. Twitch.TV provides people with a way to watch others playing all types of games in real time or through recorded video. Of course, as with any content read or viewed online, viewer discretion is advised. BOARD GAMES When one hears the word “game” an image that might be conjured could be that of a classic board game such as Check- ers, Chess, Scrabble, Life, Sorry!, Monopoly, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders or Clue. These games have withstood the test of
time and might be commonly found in classrooms and homes around the world. There are several newer board games that pro- vide an opportunity to connect while learning something new. Some contemporary popular games include Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Munchkin and Splendor. Most board games also have a junior version available so the entire family can enjoy the game play. There are some board games that include different sensory experiences as well. For instance, Shadows in the For- est is a game meant to be played in the dark. Players move a lantern around a three-dimensional game board attempting to find cute creatures hiding behind trees. No matter the type of board game selected, the family and friends are sure to have a fun time. CARD GAMES Go Fish, Old Maid, Gin Rummy and Spit are family favorites with multiple variations and are easy to play with nothing more than a deck of playing cards. Uno, while made with a specific deck based on colors, can be played with suits of 2 regular card decks. Newer card games include Sleeping Queens, Moose on the Loose, Loot and Dragonwood, which has both cards and dice. These games have engaging artwork and easy to learn rules both of which can be used to entice players while reducing the barrier to entry. ROLE PLAYING GAMES You’re walking through the woods when suddenly you hear a child scream. You turn toward the sound and see a girl, maybe 5 or 6 years old, sprinting toward you. Behind her, and gaining, is the strangest creature you’ve ever seen. It’s the size of a bear but with feathers. Its head isn’t that of a bear at all. Does it have a head of an owl? The child and the creature are both barreling toward you and will be on you in mere moments. What do you do? What do you do? You are now immersed in a role-playing game, with a problem to solve! Role playing games, like Dungeons & Dragons, invite play- ers to pretend to be a character with varying traits, abilities and personalities. The character then progresses through a series
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