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**April 16, 2008 Contact: John Arnold**

**For Immediate Release Director of Public Affairs   **

**Web site: [[www.fmcs.gov]{.underline}](../www.fmcs.gov) Phone: (202)
606-8100**

                       

**COMPUTER GAME TO TEACH CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS TO GRADES K-2**

**OFFERED FREE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL WEB SITE FOR TEACHERS**

WASHINGTON, DC -- A computer game designed to teach non-violence and
conflict resolution skills to young children has found a home with
Curriki, a nonprofit open-source educational Web site which will make it
freely available for downloading by classrooms and families across the
United States and around the world.

The computer game, called *Cool School: Where Peace Rules*, features
animated school characters in situations that ask youngsters, ages 5 to
7, to select an action for resolving a potential conflict, such as
others crowding in line, refusing to share or treating playmates
disrespectfully. The premise of "*Cool School*" is in sharp contrast to
violent and often popular commercial games that can inspire youngsters
to emulate physically aggressive behavior.

Developed by the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
in cooperation with child development programs at the University of
Maryland, the University of Southern California and the University of
North Texas, *Cool School* was tested at school locations in Illinois.
It is being made available for free downloading to teachers and families
via the Curriki Web site. Curriki is a nonprofit community of nearly
40,000 educators that offers free, open-source curriculum materials to
teachers and schools worldwide.

*Cool School: Where Peace Rules* is an interactive computer game
designed to teach children about conflict resolution in a lively, fun,
entertaining, and developmentally appropriate context. "I
enthusiastically recommend this program for all educators, teachers,
counselors, and professionals working with children, because it uniquely
enables children to teach themselves and one another about social
skills, such as negotiation, compromise, and empathy," said Professor
Melanie Killen, associate director of the Center for Children,
Relationships and Culture at the University of Maryland. "This game
provides children with a positive alternative to the violent images that
pervade the video game world. In contrast, this game teaches social
skills, and allows children to learn about foundational social skills in
a constructive, socially-positive, school environment."

*Cool School* was developed by interactive gaming veteran F.J. Lennon,
whose credits in the industry include projects for the Walt Disney
Company, Sesame Street, and Mattel. *Cool School* evolved from the
technology-based youth initiative program at the FMCS, which was a
congressionally funded effort to combat school violence and bullying by
teaching conflict resolution skills in at-risk schools.

(MORE)

**Cool School**

**Page -- 2**

The FMCS youth initiative program was inspired by the volunteer work of
federal mediators in schools and communities and their successes in
teaching dispute resolution skills. At its height, the program operated
in 10 cities and used computer technology to facilitate surveys,
communication and brainstorming sessions among concerned community
organizations and school groups anxious to reduce youth violence.

The computer game *Cool School* was developed in conjunction with the
agency's youth initiative and has been praised by the teachers and
schools where it has been tested, and also by its young players, who
learn how to avoid conflict and to better communicate with classmates.

*Cool School* is now available for downloading from the Curriki Web site
at www.curriki.org.

*The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947,
is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve
and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in
Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and 69 field offices, the
Agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry,
government agencies and communities.*

**About Curriki**\
Curriki: The Global Education & Learning Community is a nonprofit social
entrepreneurship organization dedicated to improving education by
empowering teachers, students and parents with universal access to free
and open-source curricula. Curriki is building the first and only
Internet site that offers a complete course of open-source instruction
and assessment for K\--12. The organization is creating a world-class
educational environment that is community developed and supported.
Founded by Sun Microsystems in 2004, Curriki now operates as an
independent nonprofit organization. Visit us at
[www.curriki.org](http://www.curriki.org/)

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