Across Canada, schools are starting to create their own eSports teams in order to engage students and help them develop important life skills such as teamwork, communication, and discipline. Nicole Bureau, a teacher at Ecole Viscount Alexander, started an eSports team at her school as a way to get students more involved. Starting small in what she called her ‘beta year’, Bureau’s students quickly found success by designing and building an escape room within the game Minecraft that incorporated what they were learning in their current course of study on ancient civilizations. This success led to provincial and national recognition for the students. One student, Kyle Bushek, expressed how games like Minecraft allow him to explore his passions and create endless possibilities.
These school-facilitated eSports programs not only engage students who may not be interested in traditional physical sports, but they also provide opportunities for extracurricular activities. The Manitoba Schools eSports Association recently hosted its second annual Scholastic eSports Expo, bringing together students from over 30 schools to compete in games such as Brawlhalla, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Rocket League, and Pokemon Unite. Melissa Burns, the organizer and CEO of eSports Canada, emphasized the importance of providing structured and intentional guidance in the gaming space, where gaming has become a significant part of popular culture. By introducing concepts from traditional sports, such as dealing with frustration and dysregulation, students can learn important skills like how to handle loss and win graciously, creating spaces where everyone feels like they belong.
Burns highlighted the importance of turning gaming into an intentional space, as 89 percent of Canadian youth play video games every day. By providing guidance and teaching important life skills through eSports programs, students can avoid becoming ‘Toxic players’ and learn how to handle difficult emotions. Beyond just playing games, students also have opportunities to participate in the production and streaming of events on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Discord. These opportunities help students develop career skills and gain experience early on, setting them up for success in the future. By engaging students in eSports programs, schools are providing a unique and valuable learning experience that goes beyond traditional academics.
Overall, the rise of eSports in schools across Canada is providing students with new opportunities to develop important skills and engage in extracurricular activities. Through structured eSports programs, students can learn teamwork, communication, and discipline while also gaining experience in areas like production and streaming. By incorporating elements of traditional sports, such as handling frustration and dysregulation, students can learn how to manage difficult emotions and interact positively with their peers. As gaming continues to be a significant part of popular culture, schools are taking advantage of this trend to provide intentional guidance and create spaces where students feel like they belong and can succeed in various aspects of their lives.
