In today’s world, technology is everywhere. We often forget how many times a day we interact with it, or the constant power it holds over our decisions and actions. Unfortunately, despite the widespread prevalence and use of technology, education is still falling behind in innovation and adaptation. Rather than fighting against the future, here at Coded we believe giving students a chance to combine their passions with education provides the most comprehensive and holistic opportunities for their future.
Currently, 97% of teenagers aged 12-17 play video games (1). In many academic and social circles, video games are still seen as purely extra-curricular without any professional or academic impact. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The world of eSports is a rapidly growing field with incredible professional opportunities for students worldwide. In addition to the vast career potential (2), eSports and educational video games offer a chance for students to merge their interests with academics in a healthy and controlled way. Students will play and have access to technology for the rest of their lives, the question is not how to prevent or limit this, but how to maximize its positive impact on the lives of the next generation.
Evidence shows that students who are involved in extracurricular activities and feel a sense of community perform significantly better academically than their more isolated peers (3). While many students enjoy playing physical sports or building a friend group, there are a large number of students who feel more comfortable behind a screen. The question becomes then – how can we create a safe network from the privacy of a student’s home? Esports are an excellent way to bridge this gap, offering a controlled environment for students to learn, laugh, play, and build together.
Another crucial element of educational videogames is the immersion into and fostering of digital citizenship. Digital Citizenship can be defined as empowering learners through education and developing the competences they need to actively learn and participate in our digitally rich society (4). Our students come from all around the world with unique cultures, backgrounds, dreams, and preferences. Our Coded Esports Academy offers a critical space for personal skill development while being surrounded by peers from other countries. These courses will provide tools that assist in building healthy and protective gaming habits, teaching students how to both problem solve and enjoy our rapidly evolving digital world.
Finally, all of these aspects come together and enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of our students. No longer is it accepted or considered useful to criticize and minimize hobbies that seem frivolous to older generations. The youth are clearly telling us their interests, and it’s time educators meet them where they are. Together we can build a beautiful, dynamic, and engaging future for our students by giving them the tools to create whatever they dream of – when given agency and support, it is truly remarkable to see the brilliance our students are capable of.
Citations
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2008/09/16/teens-video-games-and-civics/#:~:text=Almost%20all%20teens%20play%20games.&text=Fully%2097%25%20of%20teens%20ages,%2C%20portable%2C%20or%20console%20games.
- https://marketingreport.one/news/esports-sponsorships-to-hit-over-$1b-value-by-2025-report.html
- https://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2009/2009wilsonn.pdf
- https://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/what-digital-citizenship
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