Esports Education Shift: From Curriculum to Ecosystem
by George Cork – Esports AcademicsAbout 10 years ago esports was very much classed as a buzzword in the world of education with it only just being introduced into the landscape whereas now in today’s world it has become ever more so apparent of the role in which it can play to individuals with their personal growth. It is a great opportunity for people to also gain practical based skills but through a lens that was maybe never considered beforehand. Education needs to shift to being relevant in the 21st century and esports can help with that! We must prepare students for jobs that are not necessarily available in the world we live in today but 5-10 years down the line.
The Current Problem
It is great to see the implementation of esports in schools within club and after-school programs but there is no long-term vision currently being taken of the wider impact this can have on students in terms of their progression to enable them to succeed as well as prepare them for life post-school.
Secondly, there is a big disconnect between education and industry not only in esports but across multiple industries. This can serve as a way for students to gain relevant and up-to-date knowledge that they will require to succeed. As well as for industry to potentially intern and gain access to talent pools of gifted and talented individuals that they necessarily would not have already. It allows for there to be a relationship made between both the sectors and provides the best environments for students to succeed.
The Shift: From Curriculum to Ecosystem
I feel like there needs to be more collaboration between both the education sector and other industries and almost create a ‘education-to-industry pathway’ that is more connected and fosters the development of people to be a great asset overall to not only themselves but also any company they may end up working with. I remember when I talk to people that I attended University with and they all say ‘I have not used anything that I learnt at University in the whole 5-8 Years in which I have worked here’. Surely this showcases the disconnect that there is between Further Education and Education as a whole and industries all around the world. Education needs to adapt and evolve in order to be fit for purpose in the future.
These are the areas I feel like can contribute to a FULL esports education ecosystem:
Curriculum – Focused on specific pathways so that these skills are transferrable into any work environment not just esports!
Internships & Career Pathways – These do already exist but are not widely known about and feel like where a deeper connection between Industry and education has to be made to raise awareness of this.
Tools for Delivery – There needs to be tools and platforms that can be used to not only teachers with comprehending and aiding them in terms of delivery but also so that students can be immersed into the world of esports and how it works and functions. Therefore, creating a holistic view of not only the industry but also to make sure they gain a full understanding for how the industry functions.
Why this matters in today’s world?
This is important in today’s world as we are not only in one of the most exciting times in terms of technology, but we need to make sure we are doing right by future generations and preparing them for a world which is ever changing.
Governments are seeking ways to engage with the new generation and help towards employability this could very easily be part of that answer. It already has been used in ways to try and work with younger audiences more noticeably in the United States where Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Donald Trump have both streamed on Twitch to try and interact with a younger audience and appeal to them when there are elections.
What can the future look like?
The future can look extremely bright if people are open to the idea of COLLABORATION as well as the shift to making sure the skills that are learnt are transferable into any way of life. The narrative and stigma surrounded around the world of esports has started to be forgotten and real progress has been made.
Governments, Cities and School Boards start to fully recognise the impact and importance in which esports can have with education and start to build out multi-year strategies to foster the development of esports within these regions. Providing an environment for these skills to be fostered and developed. This is where governments can really start to help with propelling the growth of esports and showcasing the positive impact in which it can have on young people.