• Identify and describe major events and developments in gaming history

• Evaluate the foundational technologies that underpin the gaming industry and discuss the relationship between technology and gaming experience evolution

• Build and sustain a mock esports team

• Analyze ethical dilemmas specific to the gaming industry and promote responsible and respectful behavior within gaming environments

• Identify and describe various career paths within the gaming industry

• Understand the principles, tools and platforms when creating engaging gaming content

• Recognize the importance of maintaining physical and mental health in the context of prolonged gaming

• Maintain a reflective journal to chart personal insights and learning process

Meet the Creators

Our content creation team for the Esports Introduction course combines the expertise of seasoned educators with the competitive edge of professional esports veterans. Among them are Laurynas Brovka, Karl Ögland and Alyson Vengoechea.

Laurynas Brovka

Laurynas Brovka brings a wealth of esports experience to the team, having served as a coach and head analyst in the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) for two years. He is the founder of Team Atlantis, a prominent esports organization that achieved top rankings in Fortnite in 2018 and secured multiple League of Legends titles. Laurynas also founded an esports training platform that attracted over 1 million members. Notably, he was ranked as the number one player worldwide with one of his main champions in League of Legends, and among the top 5 players in Europe in his role. Despite an invitation to play in the LCS, Laurynas chose to become a coach, demonstrating his dedication to the strategic aspect of gaming. Alongside his achievements in the field of esports, Laurynas is also a lawyer, adding a diverse skill set to his career.

Karl Ögland

Karl Ögland has been a gamer since 1978 and combines his passion for gaming with his expertise as a remedial teacher specializing in Special Education. With over a decade of experience in supporting youths and adults with learning difficulties, Karl has utilized Minecraft as an educational tool since 2013 and pioneered esports in Finnish schools in 2015. He led the "Well-being through Esports" project, funded by the Finnish National Board of Education in 2017, and serves as a Vocational Teacher in ICT. Karl is also a mentor in game-based learning and esports education and authored the "ESPORT - Educator's handbook" in 2017, showcasing his commitment to integrating gaming into educational frameworks.

Alyson Vengoechea

Alyson Vengoechea brings a wealth of experience to the team. With a background in education and curriculum development, Alyson has a track record of creating impactful learning experiences. Some of Alyson's notable accomplishments include developing and directing the fully online learning program for one of Miami’s most elite private schools, presenting at conferences such as FCIS on topics of developmentally appropriate classroom management and standards-based learning and grading, and serving as a curriculum writing fellow for Miami-Dade County Public Schools where she was selected to rewrite the 7th-grade science curriculum for the fourth largest school district in the country. Alyson also produced exceptional student learning gains during her years as a middle school science teacher, achieving the highest FCAT growth in the district during her first year, and 100% passing rates during subsequent years. Alyson's approach to education emphasizes equity, student voice, meaningful learning, and relationship building.