In the last 2 years research has shown 39% of U.S. school districts have formalized esports programs, with 20,001 boys and 3,921 girls practicing esports in 2022-2023. These esports programs emphasize formal competition through practices, scrimmages, and tournaments, participants hone not only hand-eye coordination but also critical soft skills such as teamwork, strategic thinking, and digital citizenship.
Esports offer a bridge between in-classroom learning and the interests of today’s learners – transforming passive screen time into active, collaborative experiences that align with broader academic objectives.
Benefits of Esports:
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Collaboration, Communication, and Leadership
- Digital Literacy and Tech Fluency
- Resilience, Adaptability, and Self-Regulation
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Wellness
- Creative Arts Integration
Why Esports Belong in Schools:
- Student Engagement: Esports appeal to students who might not participate in traditional sports or clubs. It creates a sense of belonging and excitement.
- STEM Integration: Competitive gaming introduces students to coding, network engineering, game development, digital art, and data analytics.
- Soft Skills Development: Through esports, students learn communication, leadership, teamwork, time management, and resilience.
- Career Pathways: The esports ecosystem supports roles in marketing, event management, broadcasting, coaching, and IT — all of which are relevant beyond gaming.
- Inclusion and Accessibility: Esports offers a low-barrier entry point for students of different backgrounds, skill levels, and physical abilities.
Career Skills Through Esports:
- Game Design and Software Development
- Content Creatin and Video Editing
- Event Planning and Logistics
- Digital Marketing and Social Media
- Coaching, Analytics, and Player Development
To help students into career readiness and growth of fundamental skills, schools need the right tools to execute esports programs effectively. Thankfully Douglas Stewart partners with prime esports EdTech creators to make a difference in education.
TWT Audio provides a game-changer with full spectrum sound and unmatched voice connectivity with their Victory Gaming headsets. Perfect for gaming consoles or esports teams, this headset is available with a 3.5mm TRRS jack, providing unbeatable sound quality for gamers of all ages.
Spectrum’s esports GG Gaming Desk is engineered to enhance game play, offering a solid platform with cable management, plenty of room for peripherals and superior ergonomics. Cable management, height adjustability, and mobility make esports accessible to all students.
Adesso equips esports programs with accessories needed to level up student’s game play. With programmable mouse, touchpad keyboard, illuminated gaming mouse, adjustable gaming headset, and more, Adesso has the equipment needed to succeed in esports.
BERPL blends comfort and gaming with their esports coverage. Their high-quality audio with SkyLabs Headsets immerses students with sounds, while their gaming chairs blends sleek design with all-day comfort and adjustability to keep gaming for hours.
How has esports programs affected your school? Let us know in the comments!
Resources:
The Growing Role of Esports in K-12 Education
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