This document describes a classroom experiment that aims to increase student engagement with news by turning it into a game. In initial iterations, students who participated in the news game showed significant gains in both current events knowledge (+15-86%) and civics knowledge (+37-83%) compared to control groups. The experiment seeks to expand to local high schools and involve journalists in making news consumption a more social and fun experience for students.

1. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!

2. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!

3. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• Newspaper advertising down 50% since 2007
(ASNE, 2013)
• Staffs down 31%; 17,000 newspaper jobs lost

4. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• Newspaper advertising down 50% since 2007
(ASNE, 2013)
• Staffs down 31%; 17,000 newspaper jobs lost
• TV news viewership down 55% since 1980
(Pew, 2013)

5. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• Newspaper advertising down 50% since 2007
(ASNE, 2013)
• Staffs down 31%; 17,000 newspaper jobs lost
• TV news viewership down 55% since 1980
(Pew, 2013)
• Average age of a CBS or CNN news viewer?

6. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• Newspaper advertising down 50% since 2007
(ASNE, 2013)
• Staffs down 31%; 17,000 newspaper jobs lost
• TV news viewership down 55% since 1980
(Pew, 2013)
• Average age of a CBS or CNN news viewer?
62.3…and rising

7. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!

8. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!

9. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!

10. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• News consumption

11. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• News consumption
• Military service
• Fraternal membership
• Voting rates
• Community investment
• Union membership
• School volunteering
• Reported health/happiness

12. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• News consumption
• Military service
• Fraternal membership
• Voting rates
• Community investment
• Union membership
• School volunteering
• Reported health/happiness
• Suicide
• Divorce

13. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• So, what would you rather do?

14. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• So, what would you rather do?

15. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• So, what would you rather do?

16. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• So, why not turn news into a game?

17. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• So, why not turn news into a game?

18. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• So, why not turn news into a game?

19. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• News game, control & experimental groups
• Previous week’s news; 2 local sources; no sports
• 2 ways to earn points:
-Student does know a news story;
-Experimenter doesn’t know a news story
• Pre- and post-tests measured 2 areas:
-Current events knowledge
-Civics knowledge

20. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• First iteration: Spring 2010
8 classes; 200 students (exp n=113); 6 visits
-Current events knowledge +15%
-Civics knowledge +37%

21. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• First iteration: Spring 2010
8 classes; 200 students (exp n=113); 6 visits
-Current events knowledge +15% (few students)
-Civics knowledge +37%

22. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• First iteration: Spring 2010
8 classes; 200 students (exp n=113); 6 visits
-Current events knowledge +15%
-Civics knowledge +37%
• Second iteration: Summer 2012
2 classes; 94 (exp n=56); 18 visits (every day)
-Current events knowledge +86%
-Civics knowledge +83%

23. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• Next: Expand it to high school
2 social studies classes, approx. 30 students
each
-Lubbock High School (STEM magnet)
-Coronado High School (more diverse)

24. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• Next: Expand it to high school
2 social studies classes, approx. 30 students
each
-Lubbock High School (STEM magnet)
-Coronado High School (more diverse)
• Texas Tech IRB approved
• Lubbock School District research chair approved
• Two H.S. principles approved & ID’d teachers
• Lubbock Avalanche-Journal provided papers
• …teachers never responded

25. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• Next: Expand it to high school
-Identified a likely teacher in Austin
-Will continue to pursue Lubbock teachers
• Hosted TAB conference; many news directors
• Plan to engage journalists & journalism faculty
to make numerous classroom visits and
host student tours in news facilities

26. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
• Next: Expand it to high school
-Identified a likely teacher in Austin
-Will continue to pursue Lubbock teachers
• Hosted TAB conference; many news directors
• Plan to engage journalists & journalism faculty
to make numerous classroom visits and
host student tours in news facilities
• Include recent graduates, now working in news

27. “Gaming” the system: A classroom experiment
to (try to) make news use fun…and social!
Thanks!
Kelly Kaufhold, Ph.D.
Texas Tech University
(512) 944-7256 (c)
kelly.kaufhold@ttu.edu