What is esports?
There are many different perspectives on what constitutes electronic sports, or esports, but put simply, esports is competitive video-gaming at a professional or semi-professional level. It has a variety of different definitions including "an umbrella term used to describe organized, sanctioned video game competitions, most often in the context of video game tournaments," and organized, computer-mediated, and competitive gaming.
While many of the definitions relate to competitive, organized, or professional play, few consider one of the most important dimensions of esports-the community of spectators who watch live tournaments in arenas or who live stream competitions from all over the world. This community aspect of esports is a vibrant, interactive, and participative space, which is driving the growth of esports as an industry, as entertainment, and even as a route to a college education, and a potential career pathway.
Explaining esports to a parent/guardian or teacher
The growing popularity of esports across student populations is recognized as having the potential to be a powerfully engaging tool to reach a diverse array of students. It can be used to create an inclusive, welcoming learning environment that enhances students' abilities to collaborate, solve real problems, and learn in meaningful ways. Teachers can start blending games-based learning practices and esports into their curriculum right now. The benefits of starting an esports program extend beyond the walls of your classroom and into the lives of your students.
Now that the multi-billion-dollar esports industry is beginning to be recognized globally, United States colleges and universities are offering over 350 esports scholarships. The impact of esports participation is vast and the impact on potential career opportunities is far greater than most imagine. The opportunities for careers stemming from esports participation are rapidly expanding.
Blending esports into everyday curriculum is pedagogically sound and achievable for teachers everywhere. Check out this video about how Minecraft esports can be applied in education.
Extra resources
For more information, check out the following resources on esports: