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Esports is competitive gaming like any other sport, except students compete in the digital world.
Students play in designated esports lounges or computer labs, practicing and learning how to better communicate with their teammates. The key part here: student can game with each other in person, not solely through headsets at home.
As a third space for students, esports produces a collaborative setting and reduces the isolation of gaming at home. Students also learn valuable career-ready skills and find a sense of community over shared activities.
Integrating esports into your extra curricular options
At a faraway glance, teachers might be wary of esports. Popular games for teens often feature competition in battle arenas where players scavenge for weapons to take down other players. Districts can determine what they deem suitable for their students, after learning what helps to set each game apart—which games focus on team building rather than acting as a battle royale.It’s good to be wary of what games you incorporate at your district, what age rating level is appropriate, and how the supervisors monitor players’ interactions and language.
Games for everyone can include:
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Minecraft (rated E10+, meaning 10 and older)
- Minecraft Education
- Rocket League
- Super Smash Bros (rated E10+, meaning 10 and older)
Games rated T for teens can include:
- Fortnite
- League of Legends
- Marvel Rivals
- Valorant
When you look closer at esports, it becomes apparent how students strategize against their opponents and practice skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership. These games teach students how to be resilient and quickly solve problems.
Evolving careers beyond esports
Esports as a concept is closer to STEM than most people may think. Students who are truly passionate can learn marketable skills such as data analysis and engineering. Students analyze data by strategizing how to improve team performance and player statistics. Beyond the game itself, students can learn how to build and set up a PC in their gaming lounge, teaching them valuable IT knowledge.For example, students can customize the specs of the equipment and understand why individual parts of the PC are compatible or not. To ensure games run efficiently, they might consider the graphics card, RAM storage, and internal CPU processor. Before playing a game, students can configure different aspects, like game rules and key binds. This is a great foundation for inspiring computer architects, IT service workers, and coding engineers.
In a survey about future careers by Fortune Magazine, about a third of Gen Alpha said they wanted to be Youtubers when they grew up. An additional 15% of Gen Alpha wanted to be online streamers. Many students are interested in this tech-savvy career, and it’s increasingly obtainable as influencers rule the digital world that we live in.
Esports could just be that digital outlet for them. With esports in their district, students explore the fields of media, broadcasting (or streaming), and IT — all correlating with the career path of a content creator. Those same students learning the basic levels of content creation through esports streaming can go on to be valuable members of marketing teams and more.
Gaming creates a sense of belonging
A key part of esports, and any club or athletic sport for that matter, is socialization and a sense of belonging — which often goes overlooked. Students who struggle to find their place in school have a better chance of connecting with peers through a shared interest like video games.Because esports stands right outside the realms of athletics and the arts, it tends to attract a diverse group of students. Esports fosters a group that might not otherwise engage if not for their mutual love for gaming. These new communities can connect with each other outside of the classroom and then feel motivated to attend school, to see their new friends in person. An in-school esports environment also allows all students a chance to indulge in their passions without the high cost of gaming equipment in the home.
Committed and passionate students are more likely to show up to classes, improve their grades, and develop meaningful friendships with their peers. Esports creates a network that inspires students to support each other online and in the classroom.
Don’t let your school lag. Consider starting an esports league in your district and experience how gaming can bring kids together.
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Abby Paulsen Edtech Thought Leader |
