Should Esports Be a Co-Curricular Activity in School? (2024)

FAQs

Should Esports Be a Co-Curricular Activity in School? ›

One of the most logical reasons for supporting esports in schools is that it helps enable success for more students. Simply being involved in an afterschool activity can help student social confidence and academic success skyrocket.

Esports can also provide a real-world environment for English language learners to improve their skills. Esports offers many of the same advantages as traditional team sports and extracurricular clubs. Esports encourages collaboration, participation, perseverance, anger-management, and communication skills.

These benefits, as it turns out, are numerous: Students who participate in esports display increased academic engagement and build problem-solving and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills. Esports offer greater inclusivity than traditional sports, and foster creativity among participants.

Esports differ from traditional online gaming – an individual activity, played at home, among friends. Regular online gaming is not done in a community and is not for the public consumption. Right now, esports are being incorporated into K-12 schools as extra-curricular activities, and it's happening at a rapid pace.

Overall, the educational value of esports is significant. Esports can help students develop various vital skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, leadership, digital literacy, and engagement.

Some of the cons of e-sports can include: Negative health impacts from extended sedentary periods. Lack of balance with other important activities like schoolwork, socializing and exercise. Eye strain and other health issues like headaches, back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

First, play forms the foundation for all sports and there is little doubt eSport players voluntarily play video games for enjoyment. Second, eSports are organized goal-directed activities adhering to rules.

Esports officially stands for electronic sports, not to be confused with video games. Esports takes video gaming to another level with organized competitive gameplay between two teams, governed by its own strict set of rules and guidelines.

It breathes life into education: it transforms learning into an enjoyable, thrilling game without boring lessons. Students assimilate and retain information almost without noticing. It boosts motivation: students are the main characters in the story and their success is rewarded with medals, extra lives, bonuses, etc.

Esports programs instill important leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills that students will carry with them throughout their education. Key points: Esports programs enrich the student experience and instill skills for success.

Are you an athlete if you play esports? ›

An esports athlete is someone who plays games competitively on a professional level. For some with a traditional mindset they might seem far away from the definition of an athlete, however, they play their games very competitively in a sportive way which makes them an esports athlete.

While extracurricular activities can certainly make you stand out and demonstrate your interests, dedication, and leadership skills, not having a long list of extracurriculars should not discourage you from applying to college. There are other ways to submit a strong application and emphasize your strengths.

The resting metabolic rate is 1 MET and is defined as the energy needed to sit quietly. A brisk walk generally falls into the 3-6 MET range. Since the physical activity in esports involves using a computer handset, mouse or keyboard, it does not meet that threshold.

Regardless of one's skill in gaming, esports players gain social and emotional learning skills as they establish teams, develop mentorships, collaborate, and compete amongst students who may not otherwise interact with one another.

The Pew Research Center finds that a majority of teens—97% of boys and 83% of girls—play video games. Esports blend education and gaming, enhancing skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and strategic thinking.

1. Cognitive Development: Esports can improve cognitive functions such as decision-making, strategic thinking, and reaction time. For example, playing strategy-based games requires players to think quickly and make decisions that can impact the outcome of the game.

For example, quiz tests, mental mathematics, spell bee, case competitions, study tour, projects in exhibitions, essay competitions etc. are Co-curricular Activities, whereas, sports, swimming, athletics, debate competitions, cultural activities, community service, education clubs etc. are Extra-curricular Activities.

► Extracurricular Activities: One of the best and easiest ways to incorporate gaming as an extracurricular activity is through esports clubs. Starting an esports club can profoundly impact student engagement, mental health, and even academic performance.

Sports might be the most common extracurricular activity that springs to mind. Almost all high schools offer athletic programs, whether varsity, junior varsity, or club sports.

It boosts motivation: students are the main characters in the story and their success is rewarded with medals, extra lives, bonuses, etc. This captures and keeps their interest in learning. It gives opportunities to practice: students can apply the knowledge they acquire without getting into dangerous situations.