The sound of rapid clicking fills a converted classroom as students huddle around high-performance PCs and large monitors, their faces illuminated by the screens' glow. This isn't a typical computer lab - it's the newest type of school sports facility: an esports arena. What began as informal gaming clubs has evolved into a global movement that's calling on the education community to rethink their approach student engagement, career preparation, and skills development.
The Esports Revolution
In recent years, a new phenomenon has been sweeping through educational institutions across the globe: esports. Once dismissed as mere entertainment, competitive video gaming has evolved into a powerful tool for engagement, learning, and career preparation. Exploring EdTech, in the first of two articles, looks at the rise of esports in education across the US and several European countries, and its implications for students, educators, and the future of learning. In our next issue we will look closely at esports in Ireland, from after-school clubs to third-level championships, the national organisation - Ireland Esports and the Gamerfest event.
The Emergence of Esports in Education
Esports, short for electronic sports, encompasses a wide range of competitive video gaming activities. Esports in education is a multifaceted field that includes game design, event management, broadcasting, and marketing. It's preparing students for the digital economy in ways we couldn't have imagined a decade ago. "Esports isn't just about games," according to Chris Aviles, of Garden State Esports GSE (based in New Jersey, US). "We are seeing numbers as high as half of the kids participating in esports don't participate in any other activities at their school." This level of engagement has caught the attention of educators globally, especially as the industry continues its meteoric rise (GSE Report, 2022).
The growth of esports has been fuelled by technological advancements, increased fibre-internet accessibility, and the surging popularity of gaming among younger generations. According to Twitchtracker.com, Twitch (live-streaming service that focuses on video games) saw year-on-year increase in viewership after the pandemic hit, although numbers have decreased somewhat from a high of 26.5 billion hours watched to 19 billion hours of content viewed so far this year, it indicates an immense global audience and the appeal of esports and gaming in general.
For educators, understanding and leveraging esports means tapping into a powerful medium to enhance educational outcomes and student engagement. The educational benefits of esports extend far beyond the gaming screen. According to Intel's 2022 report on esports in K-12 education, a 2020 survey of over 1,100 esports athletes found that more than 60% planned to pursue careers in STEM or esportsrelated fields (Intel/Clarity Innovations, 2022).
Unlike traditional sports, esports break down physical barriers that can often limit participation. This inclusivity extends beyond physical abilities, GSE reports that 12% of its players have special needs, while data shows that games like Valorant maintain a roughly 40% female player base.
Why Schools Are Embracing Esports
Educational institutions in the US and several European countries, most notably in the UK, are increasingly incorporating esports into their educational programs, reaching students who might not have found their place in traditional extracurricular activities. The British Esports Federation, which hosts the International Esports in Education Summit, has seen dramatic increase in attendance by Senior Leaders, Curriculum Managers, Lecturers, and Educational Institutions with a keen interest in esports, with attendees registered from over 20 countries. Not only is there a keen interest in implementing esports in the curriculum and as regular extracurricular but there has been major development in esports education (in Britain over 9,000 students are studying Esports/Game Dev and related subjects at BTEC).
According to Kalam Neale, Head of Education, British Esports “Esports education continues to provide an opportunity for students to access state-of-the-art facilities, develop skills for digital and creative industries and to pursue a passion in education that has previously been unavailable. Centres offering esports are reporting substantial increases in student engagement, re-engagement of students into education, as well as increased retention and attendance figures.” (Esports in Education Summit breaks record attendance for fifth successive year, British Esports).
Beyond engagement, esports offer numerous opportunities for students from 21C skills, game dev and SEL to STEM, problem solving and teamwork.
Career Pathways: The esports industry is booming, offering diverse career opportunities beyond professional gaming. Students can explore paths in game development, event management and digital marketing. The global professional esports revenue topped €900 million in 2020 with an audience of over 450 million people and a projected revenue exceeding €1billion this year.
Skill Development: Esports promotes essential 21st-century skills such as teamwork and effective communication. Educators in the US, that have esports programmes have reported seeing improvements in problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and social-emotional learning among participating students.
Inclusivity: Unlike traditional sports, esports break down physical barriers, allowing students of all abilities to participate on an equal playing field.
STEM Integration: Esports programs are closely tied to STEAM education, encouraging students to explore technology, computer science and creative media.
The educational benefits of esports are significant. Esports can make learning more engaging and accessible, capture students' interest, and make complex concepts more relatable. Many state and national esports leagues have integrated wellness into their esports curriculum. In the US, the NASEF, the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations partnered with the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute/Samueli Foundation to develop a global education curriculum which includes resources on healthy relationships, choices, and goal setting, which capitalises on interestbased learning, capturing student attention through esports.
However, implementing esports in schools is not without challenges. Funding for equipment and infrastructure can be a major hurdle, and there are valid concerns about screen time and gaming addiction. According to Ireland Esports, the organisation which promotes esports across the island, it is important to remember that esports offer a variety of cognitive, self-esteem and social benefits when done in moderation.
The Future of Esports in Education.
As esports continues to gain recognition in educational circles, its integration into curricula is likely to expand, we will undoubtedly see more dedicated esports courses, advanced facilities in schools, and even esports scholarships becoming commonplace in higher education. For educators and school leaders looking to embrace this trend, staying informed and open-minded is key. Esports isn't just about games, it's about connecting with students, fostering their passions, and preparing them for a digital future. Join us in the next issue when we shift our focus to esports in education here in Ireland.
