Attendees at the Learning Counsel’s National Gathering and Awards 2020 were treated to an e-sports presentation by Dr. Katrina Adkins, Senior Program Director- K12/Higher Ed Solutions at SHI.
“What's interesting about e-sports is that it has been around since the 1970s,” said Dr. Adkins. “The concept of gaming in schools is not something new. We're figuring out in the education space how to make it happen safely, how to give students a new opportunity not only to gain valuable job and life skills, but for entry into colleges.
“I was talking with one of the gamers and she said, ‘My brother also competes and he's severely autistic. He went through all of K-12 and on into college, really without friends, without talking, without speaking to others. E-sports gave him a life where he could now speak to other students in a different way. It just absolutely changed his entire world.’ Self-esteem is huge within e-sports, but it also brings problem solving objectives. And of course, relationships. Students have to learn teamwork just like they would with any other sports. There's so much involved.”
Watch this informative presentation to find out how you can take advantage of all that e-sports has to offer your students.
