As we’ve demonstrated throughout our month of coverage that has explored the many benefits of scholastic esports, there’s a lot going on in this exciting new space! Scholastic esports offer students more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and build essential career skills. Today we’re going to dig into the hottest news and updates in the world of scholastic esports – let’s take a tour of the latest developments!
The Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF) has announced its 2024 class of 45 Scholastic Fellows and Mentors. These educators, selected from a diverse group of global applicants, will develop projects that leverage esports to enhance education. The NASEF Fellows program, now in its fifth year, equips leaders in esports education with the tools to create innovative pathways that connect gaming with learning. These projects, freely available in NASEF’s Community Library, will support educators worldwide in their efforts to build successful scholastic esports programs. The impact of the program is clear: NASEF is fostering a new generation of global leaders who use esports to engage students in meaningful, career-driven education.
Verizon is expanding its commitment to educational technology through the launch of a new scholastic esports league, free for high school students. As part of the Verizon Innovative Learning HQ platform, the league provides schools with access to free professional development, coaching, and curriculum materials focused on esports and gaming. The initiative aims to provide students with essential technical and teamwork skills while exploring career pathways in esports, game design, and cybersecurity. Verizon’s partnership with Games for Change ensures that students also receive guidance on health and wellness, making this program a holistic approach to scholastic esports education.
PlayVS, a leader in scholastic esports, has partnered with Omnic.AI to introduce AI-powered coaching to high school esports teams. Through Omnic Forge, students can upload gameplay footage from popular titles like Valorant and Rocket League to receive detailed analysis of their performance. The AI platform provides insights into player strengths and areas for improvement, offering a fast and affordable alternative to human coaches. This cutting-edge technology not only helps players refine their in-game skills but also fosters critical thinking and communication abilities, which are increasingly valued in both esports and traditional careers.
In a continued effort to support scholastic esports, PlayVS has extended its partnership with Omnic.AI to offer free access to Omnic Forge, the AI platform that analyzes gameplay and helps students enhance their performance. The partnership allows middle and high school students to upload unlimited matches and receive insights into their gameplay. Coaches also benefit from this initiative, with PlayVS providing training to help them integrate AI-driven performance improvement tools into their programs. This collaboration highlights how AI technology is becoming a crucial component of modern esports education, preparing students for success both in and out of the gaming world.
Esports programs in Pennsylvania reached new heights with the Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) crowning its 2024 state champions. Held at Harrisburg University, the finals brought together middle and high school teams from across the state, competing in Rocket League, Valorant, and Chess. The PSEL, led by the Chester County Intermediate Unit, is committed to fostering community, career readiness, and essential life skills like teamwork and communication through esports. The league has experienced rapid growth since its founding in 2020, and students from various schools are already reaping the benefits—both in their social lives and future career opportunities.
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Esports continues to open doors for students around the world, providing them with the tools to succeed in both academic and career settings. As these new initiatives demonstrate, the landscape of scholastic esports is expanding rapidly, making it an exciting and dynamic field to watch.
If you’re interested in bringing esports into your educational programs, contact us to learn more about our game development services!