What is Scholastic Esports?
What is Scholastic Esports?
Nov 9, 2023
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Summary
Scholastic esports blends competitive gaming with education, enhancing student engagement and offering benefits like scholarships, increased student engagement and career pathways. It harnesses the power of gaming to prepare students for the future while creating inclusive environments. Join Gameplan at the forefront of this educational movement, where gaming isn't just entertainment; it's education.
As educators seek to engage students in new and innovative ways, the introduction of esports into curriculums is proving to be more than a mere trend; it's a pedagogical powerhouse. Let’s take a look at how integrating scholastic esports enhances learning experiences and outcomes.
What is Scholastic Esports?
Scholastic esports refers to organized competitive gaming integrated within educational environments such as middle schools, high schools, and colleges. It combines the competitive nature of traditional esports, in which individuals or teams compete against each other in video game matches, with an educational setting to promote learning and development among students.
Scholastic esports is not just about playing games competitively; it's about harnessing the educational potential within that competitive space. It involves structured programs that blend the excitement of gaming with the rigors of academic standards. In these programs, students participate in organized teams, learn about esports health, develop strategic thinking, and learn the value of digital citizenship and cybersecurity.
What are the Benefits of Scholastic Esports?
Scholastic esports offers a myriad of benefits that extend beyond gaming itself. One of the most notable advantages is improved student engagement and motivation. By integrating esports into the curriculum, educators tap into students' passion for gaming, making learning more enjoyable and interactive. Additionally, scholastic esports fosters teamwork and communication skills as students collaborate with their peers to achieve common goals.
Another significant benefit of Scholastic esports is the opportunities it creates for scholarships and career paths. Talented students who excel in esports can leverage their skills and passion to secure scholarships for higher education. Moreover, the rapidly growing esports industry offers various career options, including game development, event management, and content creation.
Examining the facts reveals a compelling narrative: 73% of children over the age of two engage in video games¹, a number that surges to 97% during their teenage years². Furthermore, young girls who play video games are 3.3 times more likely to explore STEM subjects³, while teenagers who embrace gaming are 70% more likely to pursue STEM majors in college⁴. Leveraging the educational power of gaming opens doors to a brighter future for all students. Through the adoption of scholastic esports, schools can actively contribute to their students' path to success.
Scholastic Esports vs. Competitive Esports
At first glance, scholastic and competitive esports may seem and sound similar when, in reality, they are quite different.
Competitive esports is similar to traditional sports in the sense that it involves teams competing against each other to be the best, to win tournaments, and to win prizes and awards. On the other hand, scholastic esports open a new future for young adolescents by equipping them with 21st-century skills, STEM skills, communication skills, and technology skills, which later translate into life career development, technical development, digital citizenship, and opening up career opportunities. If you are curious about the difference between esports and gaming, make sure to check out our blog on the subject.
How to Start an Esports Program in School
Creating a safe and inclusive environment is paramount in any Scholastic esports program. Establish clear guidelines and rules to promote fair play, sportsmanship, and respect among participants. It is essential to address concerns related to excessive screen time and ensure a balance between academics and gaming. For a more detailed breakdown of the steps, check out our 6 steps to start an esports club at school.
For school administrators and teachers who are considering implementing an esports program, it is crucial to follow certain steps to ensure a successful launch. Firstly, identify the resources and support needed to establish the program. This includes securing funding, acquiring gaming equipment, and engaging with the school community to gain buy-in.
You might be curious about the game titles that are utilized in scholastic esports. It's worth noting that educators have a wide array of video games at their disposal for classroom use, such as Minecraft's Educators Edition, which can teach subjects like math, chemistry, coding, and leadership from within the game itself. Additionally, games like Rocket League, Overwatch, Fortnite, and many others can be integrated into the classroom. When incorporated into an esports curriculum, students not only gain valuable skills for the future but also benefit from esports as a tool for student engagement in your school. Don't be intimidated by the game titles; you can take the lead in coaching these games for your students.
Conclusion
The potential for scholastic esports is immense. As the industry grows, so does the need for a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Gameplan is committed to expanding esports curriculums to nurture the next generation of innovators and leaders in this exciting field.
Gameplan offers features such as scheduling, the curriculum, content creation tools, organization management analytics, and much more, allowing administrators, teachers, and students to streamline their esports activities. To learn more about how Gameplan can support your scholastic esports journey, get a demo call and take the first step towards transforming education through gaming.
Join us at the forefront of the scholastic esports movement—where gaming is not just entertainment; it's education.
Sources
As educators seek to engage students in new and innovative ways, the introduction of esports into curriculums is proving to be more than a mere trend; it's a pedagogical powerhouse. Let’s take a look at how integrating scholastic esports enhances learning experiences and outcomes.
What is Scholastic Esports?
Scholastic esports refers to organized competitive gaming integrated within educational environments such as middle schools, high schools, and colleges. It combines the competitive nature of traditional esports, in which individuals or teams compete against each other in video game matches, with an educational setting to promote learning and development among students.
Scholastic esports is not just about playing games competitively; it's about harnessing the educational potential within that competitive space. It involves structured programs that blend the excitement of gaming with the rigors of academic standards. In these programs, students participate in organized teams, learn about esports health, develop strategic thinking, and learn the value of digital citizenship and cybersecurity.
What are the Benefits of Scholastic Esports?
Scholastic esports offers a myriad of benefits that extend beyond gaming itself. One of the most notable advantages is improved student engagement and motivation. By integrating esports into the curriculum, educators tap into students' passion for gaming, making learning more enjoyable and interactive. Additionally, scholastic esports fosters teamwork and communication skills as students collaborate with their peers to achieve common goals.
Another significant benefit of Scholastic esports is the opportunities it creates for scholarships and career paths. Talented students who excel in esports can leverage their skills and passion to secure scholarships for higher education. Moreover, the rapidly growing esports industry offers various career options, including game development, event management, and content creation.
Examining the facts reveals a compelling narrative: 73% of children over the age of two engage in video games¹, a number that surges to 97% during their teenage years². Furthermore, young girls who play video games are 3.3 times more likely to explore STEM subjects³, while teenagers who embrace gaming are 70% more likely to pursue STEM majors in college⁴. Leveraging the educational power of gaming opens doors to a brighter future for all students. Through the adoption of scholastic esports, schools can actively contribute to their students' path to success.
Scholastic Esports vs. Competitive Esports
At first glance, scholastic and competitive esports may seem and sound similar when, in reality, they are quite different.
Competitive esports is similar to traditional sports in the sense that it involves teams competing against each other to be the best, to win tournaments, and to win prizes and awards. On the other hand, scholastic esports open a new future for young adolescents by equipping them with 21st-century skills, STEM skills, communication skills, and technology skills, which later translate into life career development, technical development, digital citizenship, and opening up career opportunities. If you are curious about the difference between esports and gaming, make sure to check out our blog on the subject.
How to Start an Esports Program in School
Creating a safe and inclusive environment is paramount in any Scholastic esports program. Establish clear guidelines and rules to promote fair play, sportsmanship, and respect among participants. It is essential to address concerns related to excessive screen time and ensure a balance between academics and gaming. For a more detailed breakdown of the steps, check out our 6 steps to start an esports club at school.
For school administrators and teachers who are considering implementing an esports program, it is crucial to follow certain steps to ensure a successful launch. Firstly, identify the resources and support needed to establish the program. This includes securing funding, acquiring gaming equipment, and engaging with the school community to gain buy-in.
You might be curious about the game titles that are utilized in scholastic esports. It's worth noting that educators have a wide array of video games at their disposal for classroom use, such as Minecraft's Educators Edition, which can teach subjects like math, chemistry, coding, and leadership from within the game itself. Additionally, games like Rocket League, Overwatch, Fortnite, and many others can be integrated into the classroom. When incorporated into an esports curriculum, students not only gain valuable skills for the future but also benefit from esports as a tool for student engagement in your school. Don't be intimidated by the game titles; you can take the lead in coaching these games for your students.
Conclusion
The potential for scholastic esports is immense. As the industry grows, so does the need for a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Gameplan is committed to expanding esports curriculums to nurture the next generation of innovators and leaders in this exciting field.
Gameplan offers features such as scheduling, the curriculum, content creation tools, organization management analytics, and much more, allowing administrators, teachers, and students to streamline their esports activities. To learn more about how Gameplan can support your scholastic esports journey, get a demo call and take the first step towards transforming education through gaming.
Join us at the forefront of the scholastic esports movement—where gaming is not just entertainment; it's education.
Sources
Written by
Chris Aviles
Chris Aviles is the Product Evangelist at Gameplan and the founder of Garden State Esports. A passionate educator and pioneer in scholastic esports, Chris has revolutionized the educational landscape by integrating esports into schools. His book, The Esports Education Playbook: Empowering Every Learner Through Inclusive Gaming, reflects his commitment to using gaming to enhance student engagement and learning. Under his leadership, GSE has become the largest scholastic esports league in the U.S., fostering teamwork, leadership, and inclusivity among students. At Gameplan, Chris continues to advance his mission of expanding esports opportunities in education.
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