Course Description

Esports in the Inclusive Classroom is a transformative three-hour live Zoom workshop that equips educators with the skills and knowledge to implement esports programs in their schools or classrooms. Participants will explore how to use esports to foster student engagement, belonging, and 21st-century skills such as collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. The course leverages Minecraft Education for collaborative and competitive building challenges, as well as Minecraft Java for player-versus-player (PvP) competitions. Educators will also learn how to launch esports clubs, align them with STEM goals, and connect activities to career pathways in the rapidly growing esports industry. Additionally, the course highlights other popular esports games suitable for elementary, middle, and high school programs, ensuring educators can tailor their initiatives to the interests of their students.

Course Objectives

1. Learn to host in-class esports competitions using Minecraft Education, Minecraft Java, and other games across grade levels.

2. Design and implement inclusive esports programs that promote engagement and social-emotional learning for all students.

3. Plan and launch an esports club tailored to the unique needs of elementary, middle, or high school students.

4. Explore tools and strategies for integrating esports into STEM lessons to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving.

5. Identify and utilize popular esports games suitable for scholastic programs, including PvP and collaborative genres.

6. Connect esports activities to real-world career opportunities in the gaming and technology sectors, inspiring students to explore STEM and digital careers.