The executive function minigame is a tower defense style game designed to help students overcome negative emotions they may feel when they need to do a task or assignment. Experts say that these emotional blockers are the main reason students struggle with completing assignments, transitions between classroom activities, and planning.
The minigame is divided into “minisodes” that cover one type of negative emotion, starting with frustration.
These negative feelings are modeled by the character Seb, a 13 year old boy with ADHD who struggles with executive functioning tasks and assignments. Each minisode will start with a comic that sets up the scenario. Students enter the “Brain Domain,” Seb’s imagination where he defends his mental fortitude from Challenges such as negative self talk (“Brain Bully”) or not knowing what to do (“Task Tangler”).
Students place “towers” modeled after real life strategies to attack each Challenge. Examples include a “Step Slicer” that cuts down large Challenges into smaller steps and a “Turbo Timer” modeled after the Pomodoro Technique.
As the student plays, the gain momentum and excitement that they can carry into their own activity. Students can see Seb:
- accomplish his goal and be excited to start his assignment, or
- work on growth mindset strategies with his teacher if he does not accomplish his goal.
What do you do in the game?
This minigame is a classic “Tower Defense” video game. If you’ve ever played a game like Plants v. Zombies or Kingdom Rush, those are tower defense video games.
The Minisode Select Screen
When you first click on the module, you’ll be taken to a screen that shows you the different “minisodes” in the minigame.
The Game Screen
After students read the comic and enter Seb’s Brain Domain, they’ll see a screen like this. Students can click on each “Inspiration Point” (marked by a light bulb) to place a tower.
After you place a tower, you’ll have options to upgrade, destroy, or change targeting for that tower.
You can also watch a playthrough here.
Tips and Strategies
- Try putting towers in areas where they can hit multiple pathways at the same time
- Try using the Step Slicer, as it hits multiple critters at the same time
- Try putting Sensory Silencers closest to Seb, as they shoot the fastest and can take down critters with low health quicker
- Pair the Steve Slime spot with other towers, so that critters get slowed down and hit at the same time
- Pair the MicroWin Multiplier around other towers, so that when a critter is taken out by the Multiplier, it gives health back to Seb