Before we discuss eSports in schools, here are some facts:
- The year 2000 was the heyday of indie games.
- Tiger Shroff is the brand ambassador for Esports Premiere League.
- The year 2010 was the year of casual and mobile gamers. Only professional players competed in esports.
- Online gaming revenue is expected to reach $1.9 billion in 2024, up from $1.2 billion in 2021.
- India will have the maximum new paying users in 2020 and 2021.
- Average video gaming time spent is 1-7 hours
With the facts presented above, it is clear that esports has a bright future. In this article, you will learn about the potential additional returns of esports in education.
Present Scenario of eSport at the international level
In the world, 46 countries have shown extra enthusiasm and recognised esport as a mainstream sport.
2018 was the first time when esport in India was taken seriously and our country represented itself in an esport tournament in Jakarta. Tirth Mehta, 23-year-old made it historic by winning a bronze.
This year, we see more countries getting interested in this new platform of the entertainment industry, considering it as a new way to engage people with different interests, tastes and hobbies.
Esports in Schools Give Rise to Brighter Educational Opportunities
Physical sports teach children collaboration, mental toughness, teamwork, dedication, discipline, and goal setting, wherein the word online gaming is always considered against studious behaviour. Parents immediately dismiss it as a waste of time.
True, if things aren’t under control, children may develop health problems as a result of addiction, screen time, or cybercrime.
However, if gaming is viewed as a true sport rather than a pastime, it can be as rewarding as any physical sport.
Not just as a sport but when we think of esports in education it has the tremendous advantage of engaged learning and futuristic approaches.
Video games as educational tools
Gamification of learning is something every 21st-century school is trying to incorporate in the classroom as it promotes
- High engagement amongst students
- Relatable content
- Visual-spatial learning
- Adoption of STEM curriculum
- Life skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Cross-linking of the subjects
ESports in the curriculum will not only boost the children for active participation in studies but negates the dullness of non-techie classroom, thus providing teachers with a greater tool for engaging students in learning.
Despite its numerous benefits, including esports in a regular curriculum will take time in India for it involves logistics like high-speed devices with graphic cards, gaming consoles, good networks, gaming centres and highly trained coaches.
But this year in Feb 2022, Indian fiancé minister, Nirmala Sitharaman talked about the government’s focus on setting up gamification of learning, comics, animation visual-spatial learning in education.
Also read: Government launches tax and financial literacy through games
First schools in India supporting the glory of esports
The immense benefits of esports have called for some schools in India to take the initiative to turn this childhood passion into a professional Co-curricular activity.
- Dalmiss Sunbeam School, Varanasi has added esports as a co-curricular activity and helps them nurture 21st-century skills. Also, the school has recently hosted a Minecraft championship to promote a new-age digital environment amongst the children.
- Whistling Woods International is offering a full-time college degree in esports and sports management through 3year BBA and a 2-year MBA program.
- The Indian School of Gaming provides rigorous training for online gaming and offers short-time courses in esports. It is a brainchild of Gameshashtra and has an aim to produce highly skilled online gamers.
Future of Esport as a full-time career
Over the past few years, there has been a significant rise in the public interest in online gaming, across platforms including mobile and PC and esports in schools.
This is because it has allowed more people to take up gaming as a hobby, which has also contributed to employment opportunities and revenue generation.
Esports has come a long way since its humble beginnings and continues to grow every year – so much so that some colleges today even offer courses related to creating video games.
Some recent advancements like MOGO signing up with Vidyavihar university to start a sports arena and ASUS announcement of ROG academy in India are clearly guiding us to the booming future of esports in India.
Whether you’re into gaming yourself or just an avid fan, the industry is worth a look into if you want to invest in something that’s only getting bigger.
Read next: Is India Ready for Virtual Schools?
