Benefits of academic esports
In 2018, the Pew Research Center reported that 97% of teen boys and 83% of teen girls played video games. Some of these teens were involved in school sports and clubs, however, many weren't. By offering esports in educational settings, schools have the ability to reach more students in their school community. Esports transports adolescents from the solitary world of gaming, moving them into common spaces with their peers. Students who are involved in clubs or extracurricular activities are more successful than their peers who aren't.
The benefits of participating in esports includes:
- Happiness
- Positive psychological state
- Sense of community
- Friendships
- Concentration and focus
- Resilience
- Relevance to school and college
- Digital wellbeing
- Self-regulation of emotions
- Mental wellbeing
Students participating in esports also reap the benefits of intrinsic rewards, such as:
- Sense of achievement
- Pride
- Recognition
- Positive affirmations from praise
- Freedom
- Autonomy
- Motivation
While students are participating in esports, they also build out important skills, which include:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Responsibility
- Flexibility
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
- Digital/technical skills
- Preparation and strategy
Consider these questions:
- Why is esports important to your students?
- How could you implement esports in your school?