The Rise of Esports in Education: A Holistic Approach to Engaging Students
Esports in schools is a game-changer for reaching students who might not connect with traditional sports or clubs. Imagine the kid who spends lunch alone, not interested in soccer or drama club. Now picture them eagerly joining an esports team, strategizing with peers, and feeling part of something big. That's the power of esports—it meets kids in their comfort zone and brings them into the fold. It's not just about the thrill of the game; it's about teamwork, problem-solving, and developing skills they'll use for life. Schools don't need a massive program to make an impact. Even starting small can spark interest and grow into a vibrant community where every student finds their place.
Beyond the players intensely focused on their screens, there's a whole ecosystem in esports that mirrors the excitement of traditional sports like football. There are shoutcasters, bringing the energy of play-by-plays to life, video teams capturing every epic moment, and marketing minds promoting events. Students interested in event planning can orchestrate tournaments, creating experiences that rival Friday night lights. Esports is special because it builds a bridge between how kids naturally play and how they learn. They're already gaming at home; now they can do it at school, collaborating with friends and honing important life skills. It's a space where passion for play transforms into educational growth, and every student has the chance to shine.
"We wanted to make sure that we were not just focused on the game but also the ecosystem of jobs and opportunities that are within this industry. So, we have students who are interested in shoutcasting, videography, marketing, and event planning. We wanted to make sure that we were providing pathways and opportunities for our students to explore those areas as well." - Kyle Berger
Featured Episode:
The Rise of Esports in Education: A Holistic Approach to Engaging Students - An Interview with Kyle Berger, CTO of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Learning Through Technology: A K-12 EdTech Podcast
Technology has revolutionized nearly every aspect of our lives, and education is no exception. The integration of technology in classrooms has brought about significant changes, offering new opportunities and challenges for both students and educators.
In this episode of the?Learning Through Technology?podcast, Alex and Bob welcome?Kyle Berger, CTO at?Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Join them as they delve into the fascinating world of integrating technology into education and the transformative power of technology in bridging the gap between students' lives and their learning experiences. Integrating technology in education can take many forms. Kyle explains how Grapevine Colleyville ISD embraced esports as a way to raise student engagement while providing a career pathway into the industry.?
They also touch upon the issues of cybersecurity in education and the importance of collaboration, resourcefulness, and taking risks in the field of education. Kyle encourages educators to seek out resources, collaborate with others, and experiment with different esports options to identify the best fit for their schools.
Here are the key touchpoints from the discussion:
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Meet our Expert
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CTO of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Kyle’s career as a CTO in education spans over 23 years and is spread across districts of various sizes and demographics. He has received multiple awards, including the EdTech Digest 2024 School Leader Trendsetter Award, Technology Director of the Year for Texas, the 2020 National Edtech Leadership winner, and the Institutional Leadership award for interoperability. In 2022, Kyle was named as one of the Top 100 Influencers in Edtech by Edtechdigest. His work is featured in several educational technology magazines, industry case studies as well as other published books on Educational Technology. Kyle is known as a transformer of educational technology.?
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"Technology is a great bridge between the way kids live and the way they learn. I mean, kids are coming into school with devices in their pockets that are more powerful than the computers we had when we were kids. And so, if we can use those devices in a positive way to engage them in learning, we can really start to bridge that gap between the way they live and the way they learn." - Kyle Berger
Try This Now
You likely understand the transformative potential of esports in engaging students, but how do you get started? This activity will get you started on your path to creating an esports program by gauging student interest, identifying popular games, and exploring local esports leagues.
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At STS Education, we put student outcomes and teacher effectiveness at the center of everything that we do. Our goal is to be the bridge that connects communities of educators so that they can fulfill the promise of learning through technology.