Education Meets Gaming

As with traditional sports, there is no guarantee that an esports athlete will be able to become a professional. However, a well-rounded esports program can help build long-term interest in gaming and technology careers. Students may discover an interest in programming, design, software development, IT operations and other areas, simply through exposure in a creative, enjoyable environment.

Esports demand different competencies depending on the games being played, and that can develop different social and behavioral skills. For team-based games, students can learn collaboration and communication skills in order to be effective in winning their match-up. For puzzle-mechanic and strategy games, students can expand upon strategic thinking and problem-solving traits. Almost all esports games demand a certain amount of twitch reactions and reflexes, which drives awareness and decision-making development.

Have you heard the phrase “win with humility, lose with honor?” Maybe not – I think I just made it up. But it is true – you always want to win gracefully and take every loss in stride. It is part of good sportsmanship, and something that esports team athletes can learn in this competitive setting. While this lesson is typically taught through traditional sports, esports now present an opportunity to impart this key lesson onto students who may not have had a previous interest in sports, and therefore may not have had as many chances to learn the value of sportsmanship.

It is no secret that students involved in extracurricular activities such as clubs or traditional sports perform better in the classroom. Students typically need to maintain a certain GPA in order to remain involved in their activities, and that involvement teaches them how to prioritize responsibilities and develop time management skills. Esports, in this regard, is no different – it’s something to keep students involved, but also something to teach them organizational skills outside of the esports arena. According to an article from the Chicago Tribune, activities provide students “with a sense of belonging” and make them feel “that they’re a part of something”, and involvement has been associated with “higher math and English grades, improved grades and homework completion, better performance on math, reading and science tests, and an increased likelihood of applying to college.”