WHY ESPORTS AND GAME CLUBS FOR STUDENTS?
ESPORTS AND GAME CLUBS ARE A GREAT WAY TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH FUN, COMPETITIVE, AND REWARDING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS.
WHY CREATE A GAMING CLUB:
- Colleges across the country are starting to recognize the advantages and offer esports scholarships
- NACE (National Association of Collegiate Esports)
- Build student relationships and confidence
- Provide a safe & social place to play
- Provide an outlet for students that aren’t interested in traditional sports
- Break down barriers between different groups of students
- Encourage collaboration and build problem-solving skills
- Prepare students for the increasingly digital world around them
- Apply gaming lessons in real life, such as perseverance, teamwork, and decision making
- Encourage students to improve or maintain good grades so they can participate in gaming clubs
Gaming clubs develop both academic and social skills in students. As an example, most games require the ability to make quick calculations and decisions based on logic, which expands math skills. In addition, the imagination is nurtured in role-playing games, which can improve creative writing skills.
HOW TO START A GAMING CLUB:
Step 1: WHERE & WHEN
Find a location and a time slot that is available. If your school doesn’t have a space available, consider asking your local library, community centers, society halls (that may belong to other organizations), recreation centers, churches or other religious institutions, or even gaming stores.
Step 2: WHO
It is important to involve family and friends, administration and IT support, students, fellow teachers, and parents. Set up a discussion or survey to discuss interest levels and participation.
Step 3: WHAT
Discuss the games that will be played during gaming club. Here are a few examples of games that are both school-friendly and have a large player base that many members of the club may play:
- Unimersiv
- Woofbert VR
- Discovr WA
- The Body VR
- Oculus DreamDeck
- Introduction to Virtual Reality
- Discovery VR
- Foundry 10 is a great resource for educational VR games
Step 4: WHY & HOW
Encourage students to take ownership of the club by communicating a “why” and establishing a “how”:
- Encourage students to create a Mission Statement, focusing on goals for a gaming club
- Allow students to create rules and expectations for all participants.
- Consider using a “passport” system in which students earn “points” as they play different games with different players.
- Encourage student input for advertising, announcements, and social media
- Consider finding sources for sponsorship & financial assistance
Created by ZACK GILBERT
Book: Teachercraft: How Teachers Learn to Use Minecraft in their Classrooms, Seann Dikkers, et al. 2015 | Chapter 6 credited to Zack Gilbert & Seann Dikkers – How Do Teachers Use Minecraft Outside of Classrooms. (Free Download)