Stories from the Classroom

Esports in the Classroom

Episode Summary

Esports, or competitive video gaming, is a booming industry. It's no wonder Mark Cuban would buy esports stock and sell NFL stock if given the choice. With such a growing industry full of opportunity, what role does esports play in education?

Episode Notes

I spoke with several people that are on the front lines of where esports and education intersect. We discuss:

• What exactly are esports
• What types of esports scholarships and programs are available at the college level
• How an esports program is so much more than just playing video games
• Why educators need to consider starting an esports program at their school
• Where to go for gaming PCs when your school doesn't have the funds for them
• Resources for getting an esports club started at your school
• Resources for implementing esports into English curriculum

You'll also hear a little audio from an esports project I tried out with my some of my students.

Links

• James O'Hagan's Podcast 'The Academy of Esports': [taoesports.com/][1]
• University of California - Irvine Esports program : esports.uci.edu/
• North American Scholastic Esports Federation resources : esportsfed.org/
• Freakonomics episode on esports : freakonomics.com/podcast/sports-5/
• Thom Gibsons esports project vlog : youtube.com/watch?v=uIDAVzgexAE

Connect With Thom

• YouTube : youtube.com/gibsonedu
• Twitter : twitter.com/gibsonedu
• Instagram : instagram.com/gibsoneducation/
• Website : thomgibson.com/
• My classroom economy instructional video series : thomgibson.com/classroomeconomy/