Jump Anywhere in the World (JAW) is more than just a video game—it’s a revolutionary learning tool that integrates SEL, global awareness, and problem-solving into an engaging, interactive experience. By leveraging the power of video games, JAW empowers students to build the social-emotional skills they need for life—while having fun in the process. Click on the image above to listen to Charisse’s podcast interview on gamification. 

JAW is a seven-series mobile video game that integrates SEL  strategies. It offers engaging, game-based activities that foster emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and resilience principles through educational technology and immersive storytelling. The game follows a young protagonist who, while attempting to escape a bully, falls into a trance-like state and visualizes himself jumping onto different continents as he struggles to find his way home. Players embark on a thrilling adventure where they must:

• Navigate extreme weather conditions
• Encounter and learn from mystic wildlife
• Solve puzzles and overcome obstacles
• Make strategic choices that shape their journey

Multilingual Accessibility:

Translated into Spanish, with future expansions planned for Japanese, German, French, Korean, Chinese, and Italian—making JAW an inclusive and globally accessible tool for SEL development.

SEL Integration & Gameplay Rewards

JAW actively reinforces SEL competencies by rewarding players for making emotionally intelligent choices within the game. The leaderboard system acknowledges progress in the following areas:

✅ Self-Awareness: Practicing mindful strategies to maintain balance.
✅ Social Awareness: Discovering similarities and differences in others.
✅ Self-Management: Understanding personal boundaries and decision-making.
✅ Relationship Building: Recognizing how cultural empathy looks and feels.
✅ Responsible Decision-Making: Applying problem-solving strategies in real-time.

JAW Addesses Educational Concerns

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides various student data. Here’s a summary of the available information:

Mental Health and Behavioral Diagnoses:

• Prevalence: In 2021, 27.7% of children aged 3 to 17 years had been diagnosed with mental, behavioral, or developmental disorders (MBDDs), an increase from 25.3% in 2016. Specific increases were noted in anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and speech or language disorders. cdc.gov

• Treatment:Among children aged 3-17 with a current mental health condition, just over half (53%) received treatment or counseling from a mental health professional in the past year, and 43% took medication for an emotional, concentration, or behavioral condition. cdc.gov+1cdc.gov+1

Chronic Absenteeism:

 Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of school days, has been associated with various factors, including health issues, socioeconomic challenges, and family dynamics. 

Starting School with Limited Social Skills:

The CDC emphasizes the importance of early childhood development, including social and emotional skills. However, specific statistics on children starting school with limited social skills are not readily available. Factors such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact a child’s social development. Approximately 68% of children aged 0–17 years have experienced one or more ACEs, which can affect their ability to focus, self-regulate, and trust others. en.wikipedia.org

The Social Skills Deficit

In today’s digital era, most communication happens through keyboards and touchscreens, leaving many students without the foundational social skills necessary for real-world success. As digital learning expands, it has unintentionally contributed to a decline in interpersonal skills, creating a social skills gap that interferes with students’ ability to navigate relationships and teamwork in today’s competitive world. 

Closing the Learning Gap

JAW will help close the learning gap by addressing students’ attendance issues, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive needs while fostering academic growth. However, real change happens when we meet kids where they are—and many of them are already engaged in video games. Instead of discouraging gaming, JAW offers an innovative solution that transforms screen time into meaningful learning, which closes the learning gap.

JAW aims to bridge the gap in social-emotional development while fostering equity in the classroom, ensuring all students have the tools they need to thrive academically and socially. 

The Power of Video Games in Education

Research highlights the benefits of educational video games, showing that they:
✔ Increase student attendance, motivation, and engagement
✔ Reduce disruptive behaviors and improve decision-making
✔ Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in learning environments

Supporting Activities: Extending SEL Beyond the Game

To reinforce in-game SEL concepts, JAW integrates classroom discussions and hands-on activities that deepen students’ understanding of real-world applications.

Example Classroom Activity – “Crossroads” (Level 1):
At the end of Level 1, students engage in an interactive discussion about crossroads—both literal and figurative. The activity involves:
1️⃣ Defining “crossroads” and discussing its significance.
2️⃣ Sharing personal experiences where they faced a crossroads in life.
3️⃣ Building a LEGO crossroad model to represent either an in-game moment or a personal experience.

By connecting gameplay to real-life experiences, JAW ensures that SEL lessons extend beyond the screen, fostering deeper learning and meaningful classroom conversations by:

✅ Encouraging exploration and curiosity
✅ Enhancing geographic and cultural awareness
✅ Developing problem-solving and decision-making skills
✅ Supporting STEM and social studies learning objectives
✅ Providing a safe, immersive, and educational gaming experience

How JAW Benefits Schools

🌍 Integrates with Curriculum – Aligns with history, geography, and social studies lessons to provide real-world learning experiences.

🧩 Gamifies Learning – Encourages students to think critically and explore the world in an engaging, interactive way.

📚 Supports Inquiry-Based Education – Sparks curiosity by prompting students to research and engage with global topics.

🤝 Encourages Collaboration – Students can work together to solve puzzles, complete missions, and uncover historical mysteries.

For Educators & Schools:

• Use JAW to enhance geography and social studies lessons with real-world exploration.
• Create virtual field trips where students explore different countries and cultures.
• Encourage collaborative problem-solving through team-based challenges.

For Parents & Families:

• Use JAW to inspire curiosity and discussions about different parts of the world.
• Encourage kids to research and share what they learn after each jump.
• Play together and turn learning into a fun family adventure!