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Exploring Careers in Esports

Engage Students. Teach Career Skills.
All through Minecraft Education.

Exploring Careers in Esports is a standards-aligned, engaging middle school CTE course built with Minecraft Education and Gameplan, where students explore careers such as game design, marketing, and event management.

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The Research Is Clear:
Minecraft Transforms Learning

Discover how Minecraft Education boosts student engagement, motivation, and achievement across ELA, math, science, and more, backed by peer-reviewed studies and real-world classroom impact.

Enhances reading, writing, and storytelling in ELA

Improves math and science understanding through hands-on exploration

Supports inclusive learning for students with disabilities

Boosts student motivation, engagement, and attendance

“In our first year, we had two students who wouldn’t talk to anyone. But when they started sharing a Minecraft world, something changed. They began talking to each other about what they wanted to build and create. We use the game as an incentive, but it becomes so much more.”

Aaron Bluestein, Menta Group

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Course Outline

Exploring careers in the esports ecosystem.

5 Units

50 Lessons

Common Core

Available in English and Spanish

Aligned to

ISTE Standards

Unit 1 · 11 Lessons

Explore Game Design

Introduces students to Minecraft Education, focusing on building techniques, game design principles and an iterative workflow. Students learn how to design and build their own parkour worlds in Minecraft Education.

Objectives

Learn building techniques

Explore game design principles

Sketch and plan a mini-game

Implement mini-game based on design

Collect feedback and iterate

1

2

Unit 2 · 11 Lessons

Explore Game Development

Students work in teams to plan and build a competitive game in Minecraft Education. Building on a template, they will design game mechanics, implement strategic features and add visual details.

Objectives

Work as a team on a project

Design and build a competitive game

Playtest and collect feedback

Iterate and improve game design

Write Player's Handbook

3

Unit 3 · 10 Lessons

Explore Game Logic

Implement more advanced game mechanics using command blocks and redstone in Minecraft Education. To increase player immersion in their game, students develop logic-based gameplay elements like power-ups, scoreboards, and automatic doors.

Objectives

Trigger events with interactive components

Use AND and OR gates to create conditions

Add scoreboard UI

Complex behaviors using sequences of commands

4

Unit 4 · 9 Lessons

Explore Marketing

Explore the essentials of marketing by creating promotional materials for a tournament. Students will understand how to engage a target audience and promote their event effectively.

Objectives

Develop a marketing plan

Create tournament invitation posters

Produce and edit game trailers

Build a portfolio of their creative work

5

Capstone Project · 9 Lessons

Organize Tournament

As a capstone project, students organize esports tournaments in Minecraft Education using the games they have built. To end the course, students take an exam where they can earn a certificate of completion.

Objectives

Set up tournament structure and rules

Manage team registrations

Host the tournament

Earn a certificate of completion

Swipe left and right to see full pathway

Where does it fit?

Middle School Elective

CTE-Aligned Learning Pathway.
Middle School -> High School -> Workforce-Ready

Middle School

Minecraft Education Courses

Exploring Careers in Esports

High School

Esports Electives

Careers in Gaming

Careers in Esports

Game Design Pathway

Game Design Fundamentals

Media Production Pathway

Media Production Fundamentals

Digital Technology Pathway

Cybersecurity Fundamentals

Created By
Educators and Professionals

Exploring Careers in Esports is created in a partnership between Gameplan and Minecraft Education to give students more opportunities to explore careers through engaging Minecraft Education experiences. The course developed by educators and industry professionals.

Never taught with Minecraft before?

Minecraft Education Professional Development

Utilizing Minecraft Education in the classroom

District wide course launch

Full lesson plans and teacher instructions

Hosting servers in Minecraft Education

Access to Educators Community

Discover Professional Development

Free Guides and Resources

Working with thousands of schools to integrate esports into curriculum and after-school activities, we have some best practices to share.

Guide to Grants and Funds for Esports Programs

11 minute read

Esports programs are gaining eligibility for educational funding as they align with key educational goals like student engagement, reducing absenteeism, career prep, and problem-solving skills. Funding options vary, from federal and state grants to private sources, each with specific requirements. Esports plays a pivotal role in addressing focuses of the department of education goals, like equity gaps, mental health, and diversity. It offers inclusive, cost-effective, and engaging solutions, especially for underserved communities, and provide career opportunities in the growing esports industry. Various funds like Title I, II, III, IV, IDEA, and ESSER are available for supporting esports in schools, each targeting different aspects of educational enhancement. This blog delves into how esports can be a versatile tool in education and explores diverse funding avenues to support these innovative programs. To get help with funding, please schedule a call with us for free, and let us help you!

Reducing Chronic Absenteeism with Esports Driven Curriculums

7 minute read

Chronic absenteeism remains a major issue, driven by factors like bullying, disengagement, and lack of career connections. Esports-driven curriculums offer a solution by engaging students through their passions, improving attendance, fostering teamwork, and overlaps with CTE pathways to build career-ready skills. Schools with esports programs report higher attendance and fewer disciplinary issues. Gameplan supports this effort with tools to track attendance, engagement, and progress, providing actionable insights to help schools address absenteeism effectively.

First Steps to Starting an Esports Program: Madison Junior High’s Success Story

4 minute read

Madison Junior High’s Esports program, led by Justin Davis and supported by Gameplan, has increased student engagement and academic performance. Initially met with skepticism, the program overcame challenges like logistical issues and parental concerns. Through clear communication, strategic planning, and the use of Gameplan’s engaging platform, the school saw improvements in attendance, disciplinary actions, and student collaboration. The success has sparked interest in expanding the program to other schools, offering more teachers professional development opportunities.

Benefits of Esports in Schools

5 minute read

Esports in K-12 education is revolutionizing how students engage with learning. By integrating esports programs, schools see increased attendance, higher engagement, and improved academic outcomes. Esports promotes STEM interest, critical thinking, and collaboration while offering pathways to diverse careers. Whether through structured curricula or after-school clubs, esports breaks barriers, fosters inclusivity, and introduces students to high-need, high-wage, and high-skill careers.