Esports
Electronic sports, or competitive video gaming, is an extracurricular activity in K-12 and higher education with organized competitions at regional, state, national and international levels. It involves software and hardware devices and varying degrees of technical skill, and in some schools is combined with STEM curricula.
A private college in Ohio is giving students the option to minor in esports management after an introductory course saw heavy demand, and as the industry reports more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue.
The first school district in Washington state with its own virtual reality headsets is using them to boost student engagement, offer new outlets for activity and complement lessons in game and software design.
With an estimated global market value over $1.38 billion, the esports industry continues gaining popularity in Ohio, where grassroots organizations have been creating competitions at high school and collegiate levels.
Advocates for esports and drone racing have appealed to the University Interscholastic League to officially sanction those activities at Texas high schools, which would help with the creation of rules and programs.
Renovations to the University of Texas Permian Basin's library will include an eSports arena with large TVs and 12 high-performance gaming work stations, plus offices and an event space with a stage and seating for 100.
Veteran esports leaders on Tuesday at the ISTELive 22 annual conference explained the myriad benefits of those programs, from promoting social-emotional well-being to laying the groundwork for technical careers.
Students and administrators say digital streaming platforms, referrals and college recruitment test tournaments have made organized video game competitions among the fastest-growing extracurriculars in Iowa.
More than a year after Iowa State University opened an e-sports gaming room, the facility has seen a spike in popularity, and the University of Iowa is planning its own 2,700-square-foot lounge in the Iowa Memorial Union.
Four years after the district started competitive video gaming teams, esports are being recognized alongside traditional sports, and teachers and parents say students are gaining interest in school.
The private Catholic institution is in the process of developing and equipping an esports facility on campus, to train students to play video games competitively against other colleges and at the national level.
