The Rise Of Esports In K-12 And Higher Education Programs
Esports continues to grow in popularity, with the global market value increasing over 70% over the past four years and an estimated $1.64 billion in revenue in 2023. With the rise in interest, there are organically some common misconceptions when it comes to esports and what that means for early adopters, like those in K-12 and higher education programs. While some believe that gaming lacks educational value or perpetuates antisocial behavior, K-12 and higher education programs are embracing esports as they are becoming more popular. Esports can have a tangible impact on student engagement and even prepare students for a variety of careers.
3 Misconceptions About Esports In Education
Here are three common misconceptions about esports in education:
1. Gaming Perpetuates Negative Social Behavior
While many believe gaming can be antisocial and individual, esports teams can turn a collection of individual players into a cohesive team. Team-based games strengthen students' collaboration and communication skills, providing a sense of belonging to students with niche gaming and IT interests. This can make students feel more engaged and connected in a post-pandemic school environment that can be extremely anxiety-ridden.
In fact, a recent study found that in 2023 alone, esports participants attended school for an additional 7.34 days and had a 19.3% lower absentee rate than nonparticipants. One example where we saw this in action was UNC Greensboro, which focused on how to provide equitable technology access to their students and brought an esports arena to the campus. This kept students connected through the pandemic, providing continued educational opportunities for students.
As education impact leaders, we should be thinking about building community, creating connections, and facilitating growth constantly. esports offers all three.
2. Esports Lacks Educational Benefits
Gaming is not often associated with learning, though it offers a variety of unsung educational benefits. Esports can enhance problem-solving skills and improve spatial attention. It can also foster long-term interest in STEM and IT careers. Students involved in esports may discover an interest in programming, design, or software development simply through exposure to a creative tech environment.
Additionally, engaging in an esports program can give younger children a source of mentorship—something they may not have experienced much of at a young age. By supporting students' passion for gaming at a young age, educators can help students discover what they like to do and how it could translate into a career.
Esports can also reignite students' passion for learning through its competitive nature. As students work together to problem-solve and surpass milestones, they become more engaged and excited about applying themselves.
3. Gaming Is Not A Sport
While esports is still fairly new and non-traditional, it cultivates good sportsmanship, offers scholarship opportunities, and can even offer better exposure for schools. Additionally, it provides a higher level of accessibility than other physical sports.
According to the National Association of Collegiate Esports, more than 170 U.S. colleges have varsity esports programs and are offering around $16 million per year in scholarships. By 2025, there are expected to be over 318 million esports enthusiasts worldwide, a significant increase from the 215.2 million in 2020. Esports viewership figures are now similar to Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League and will likely only expand in the future.
As gaming continues to evolve and provide new opportunities, forward-thinking schools should embrace esports programs to provide a way for gamers to connect, develop their skills, and explore their interests.
Launching An Esports Program
Initiating an esports program may seem intimidating, so here are a few tips on getting started if this is new territory:
- Find a passionate leader
A great starting point is finding a teacher or staff member who is excited about esports. There is probably already a staff member who is an avid gamer and schools can often find an interested staffer simply by asking around. - Tap into your network
Some larger districts may have a district-wide esports league or other district schools with existing programs. Educators should tap into their network to see if there are existing programs on which they can model their programs. - Create structure and expectations
Once a program has been initiated and interested students have been recruited, it's important to establish scheduled meeting times and student expectations, ultimately ensuring that students will develop their communication and collaboration skills through participating.
Conclusion
Changing perceptions around esports is essential to the success of students. It offers new ways for students to get involved and teaches essential skills, such as teamwork, problem solving, and communication. By combating these misconceptions, we can support students on their educational journey in a way that fosters creativity and encourages engagement in extracurriculars and education.
