The Engagement Challenge

Student engagement is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. When students are engaged, they focus better, participate more, and retain information longer. Yet classrooms today face competing demands and diverse learners with different interests.

This blog outlines research-backed engagement approaches and shows how esports supports connected learning, CTE goals, and the 5 C’s of engagement.

Connected Learning and Esports for Engagement

Connected learning is an educational approach that integrates interest-driven learning, supportive social relationships, and educational opportunities together.  Esports curriculums are an excellent opportunity for connected learning. They harness student interest and engage students with cooperative activity and social-emotional learning, resulting in authentic connections and career opportunities through STEM and CTE.

Esports brings these elements together. Students work in teams, solve problems, and use digital tools in ways that feel meaningful and familiar. When esports aligns with CTE pathways, schools can support skills in STEM, design, media production, and digital literacy.

Esports isn’t a distraction. It is a structured learning tool that raises engagement and brings in students who may not connect with traditional instruction.

8 Strategies for Increasing Student Engagement

1. Harness Interests with Esports

The first step to increased student engagement is identifying what captivates your students and weaving it into the curriculum. This means understanding their interests, hobbies, and passions. Once you have a good understanding of what your students are interested in, you can start to find ways to incorporate those interests into your lessons. For example, if you have a student who is passionate about esports, you could use esports to teach math, science, history, or any other subject you think of. The possibilities are endless. You could also have students predict social media trends to learn about current events and data analysis.

2. Personalized Learning

Students stay engaged when lessons feel relevant. Personalized learning lets students move at their own pace, choose topics, and build on their strengths.

Technology makes this easier with tools that support differentiated instruction and project-based work. When students see the value in what they’re doing, motivation increases. The key, however, lies in crafting relevant, meaningful, and authentic learning experiences that resonate with students, propelling them to take ownership of their learning journey.

3. Integrate Short Breaks

Introduce short, engaging activities to rejuvenate students. This can be a quick, fun Kahoot session or engaging tools that Gameplan offers. These breaks can help students stay focused and engaged and can also help to reduce stress levels.

Some examples of short, engaging activities that can be used as refreshment breaks include:

• Video reviews: Students can watch short video reviews of books, movies, or other media. This can be a fun and engaging way to learn about new things, and it can also help students stay focused and engaged. Using a video review tool can make this easier, allowing students to comment, draw, and answer questions on the video itself.

• Video Game Sessions: Students can play short games to help them to relax and de-stress. This can be a great way to break up the monotony of studying, and it can also help students improve their cognitive skills. 

• Discussions: Students can have short discussions about topics they are interested in. This can be a great way to learn new things and interact with other students. This can be easily conducted with a student engagement platform if you are interested in keeping everything organized and archived.

4. Use Interactive Learning Activities

Hands-on learning increases participation. Group projects, simulations, experiments, and scenario-based work help students connect content to real-world ideas. Esports naturally fits here, since teams practice strategy, communication, and reflection.

5. Leverage Technology in the Classroom

According to a study, using technology in the classroom resulted in a whopping 51% increase in student motivation to learn, a 30% increase in applying their newly learned knowledge to practical problems, and a 23% increase in taking ownership of their learning. 

Technology-driven lessons give students more ways to explore, build, and communicate. Esports, video editing, coding tools, and digital collaboration platforms all support deeper learning.

Want more proof? Read about how a Michigan Charter School used esports in classroom to boost stronger participation and engagement across all subjects.

6. Encourage Student-Led Projects

Students want more autonomy to engage in and design their own learning (1, 2). They want to learn and utilize their learning preferences and styles and want support to do so.

Esports teams are ideal for this. Students can take roles like:

• Analyst

• Strategist

• Coach

• Content creator

This mirrors real-world workflows in media and technology.

7. Emphasize Real-World Relevance

Students want their work to be meaningful. They want their efforts to go on something relevant, meaningful, and authentic; in other words, they want it to be worthy of their time and attention. 

Help students see the relevance of what they are learning by connecting classroom content to real-life situations. Show them how concepts apply in the world beyond the classroom, sparking their curiosity and demonstrating the practicality of their education. Creating these connections can greatly enhance student engagement through guest speakers, field trips, or real-world examples.

8. Use Digital Learning Tools

Digital learning platforms help teachers track progress, monitor participation, and support students who need extra help. They simplify classroom management and ensure everyone stays engaged.

If you want a tool that supports esports, CTE, and classroom workflows, we can guide you.

What are the 5 C's of Student Engagement?

The 5 C's of engagement are: Choice, Challenge, Collaboration, Control, and Connection.

• Choice: Let students choose topics or projects they’re passionate about.

• Challenge: Present tasks that push their boundaries without overwhelming them.

• Collaboration: Encourage teamwork and peer learning.

• Control: Give students some autonomy over how and when they learn.

• Connection: Build authentic relationships and tie lessons to real-life contexts.

Esports supports all five. Teams make decisions together, reflect on strategy, and build real relationships through shared goals.

From Disengaged to Engaged

Improving student engagement requires intentional design and consistent practice. Esports is a powerful tool that aligns with modern teaching needs, supports CTE pathways and reaches students who may not respond to traditional instruction.

If you want help integrating esports into your curriculum or student engagement plan, schedule a short meeting with us. Together, let's inspire a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.