As educators, we’re always seeking ways to engage our students in meaningful learning experiences. Recently, a group of passionate teachers came together for a webinar to share their experiences using the Gaming Concepts curriculum, a transformative tool that blends the excitement of esports with educational objectives. From increased student engagement to improved self-esteem, the stories shared by these educators provide valuable insights into how gaming can revolutionize the classroom.
Student Engagement and Empowerment
Jonas Elam, a teacher from Fremont, California, shared how his students became more confident in expressing themselves after just a few weeks of using Gaming Concepts. “I’ve seen students who are normally shy or reserved take risks and explore new areas of their identity, especially through the media and design projects,” he explained. For many, this curriculum was a way to break through barriers, encouraging students to engage with the material and feel comfortable experimenting.
In the middle school setting, Jaime Abou-Shahla from Highlands Ranch, Colorado noticed a similar transformation. “A lot of my students were introverted, and it was amazing to see them slowly open up as they connected over something they loved—gaming,” she said. Students who were once withdrawn began interacting with their peers, building social skills, and showing a renewed interest in learning. The results? Increased attendance and more positive classroom dynamics.
Developing Transferable Skills
One of the standout features of Gaming Concepts is its ability to help students develop skills that extend beyond the classroom. For middle school students, this curriculum is about more than just gaming; it’s about fostering self-awareness, adaptability, and social-emotional learning. Jaime highlighted how students began making connections between gaming and real-world skills, from teamwork to goal-setting. “They're learning things that they’ll carry with them to high school, higher education, and even into the workforce,” she said.
Jonas echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how Gaming Concepts equips students with skills in media creation, design, and reflective learning. For many of his high school students, this curriculum was their first introduction to creative fields like graphic design and video editing. “They started creating projects they were genuinely proud of and excited to share,” he noted.
Making Learning Personal
What really sets Gaming Concepts apart is its flexibility. The curriculum is designed with customization in mind, allowing teachers to adapt lessons to meet the unique needs of their students. Jaime shared how she was able to adjust the middle school curriculum to better align with her students’ needs and interests, thanks to the resources available through the Blueprint platform.
For Jonas, the ability to incorporate his own industry experience into the lessons was key to creating a more engaging environment. “The more I adapted the curriculum to fit my teaching style and my students’ needs, the better the outcomes,” he said.
Reflections and Growth: A Key to Success
Both educators emphasized the importance of reflection in their classrooms. In Gaming Concepts, students are encouraged to reflect on their learning, set goals, and evaluate their progress. This practice not only supports students' growth but also helps them develop critical thinking and self-assessment skills. “It’s not just about completing projects, but understanding the journey and how to improve,” said Jonas.
Jaime added that this reflective process also involves regular check-ins with students, helping them track their progress and adjust their strategies. “It’s not about giving them grades—it's about helping them grow, both academically and personally,” she said.
Why Gaming Concepts is a Game-Changer
At the heart of it all, both Jaime and Jonas agreed that Gaming Concepts is a game-changer because it provides a unique opportunity for students to explore their passions while developing vital skills. “It’s about intrinsic motivation,” said Jonas. “When students are invested in what they’re doing, they perform better, and that’s what makes Gaming Concepts so powerful.”
In summary, Gaming Concepts offers more than just a curriculum—it’s a way to engage students, build their self-confidence, and equip them with skills they can use throughout their lives. As we continue to see the positive impact of esports in education, it’s clear that this innovative approach is paving the way for the future of learning.
Q&A
Q: Welcome, everybody, to the webinar. Today we're talking about teaching gaming concepts. Could you each introduce yourselves?
A: I'm Jonas Salem, a teacher from Fremont, California. This is my fourth year teaching, but my first year teaching gaming concepts. I also teach world history.
A: I'm Jaime. I teach middle school technology, which includes computer science, innovation and design, digital media, and esports. This is my first year teaching esports.
Q: What transformations have you seen in your students since implementing Gaming Concepts?
A: A lot of my students have become more comfortable taking risks, trying new things, and exposing themselves to challenges. They feel safe expressing themselves. Every one of my students created at least one project that they felt passionate about and proud of.
A: Many of my students who are special needs or who are being examined for extra support are getting D's and F's in all of their classes except for mine. So many students say this is either the only class they're passing, the only class they have an A in, or the only class that they talk about with their parents with any sense of positivity.
Q: What does a typical day look like in your Gaming Concepts class?
A: I don't think of a lesson as an individual day.
I think of it as a series of days to cover the same topic. I'm a big fan of the EDGE method: explain, demonstrate, guide, enable. I'm also a big fan of the discussion boards. Pretty much every class period ends with one of the journals.
A: We do our bell work warmup question, where I pose a social-emotional learning question to them, and they respond. We have some share-outs and then get into what we're doing for the day. We do a little discussion and overview of what we're looking at. I love the discussion board pieces. The journals are fantastic.
Q: What kind of technology do you think you need for Gaming Concepts?
A: My implementation is pretty tech-heavy. I utilize Blueprint, which is a nice learning management system. I also like to print out some of the worksheets sometimes and make them practice those writing skills. It's really flexible for what I need.
A: All you need is a browser. We used Blueprint for the full first semester. I'm very fortunate that we have a license with Adobe, so I'm able to animate and edit videos.
Q: What challenges did you face when you first started with gaming concepts, and how did you overcome them?
A: Coming in brand new to teaching esports in general was a big challenge for me. There was a teacher who previously taught, and his style was a lot different than mine. I started off with the wrong curriculum. I started with the fundamentals, which is more high school geared. But I called up my rep and switched to the middle school curriculum.
A: Honestly, aside from the late start and some IoT struggles, there hasn't been a whole lot. I would say the one thing that I had a hard time with at the start was satisfying my students who were already experts in whatever media creation we were doing. The solution is that I've been collaborating with my students.
Q: How do you measure student learning and growth in a class that is as dynamic and unconventional as Gaming Concepts?
A: A lot of my formative assessment is reflection pieces, whether that's in a journal prompt or I create a little Google form as an exit ticket.
A: Everything's project-based assessment, and everything is heavily tied into reflection. I always have them fill out the rubric for themselves and explain why they gave themselves each score.
Q: Do you have any final thoughts on Gaming Concepts?
A: Gaming Concepts is a game changer in education because it brings something that is incredibly accessible to, and relatable to the vast majority of your student body.
A: One of the big things that we focus on is skill transference. They're taking these transferable skills out into high school, out into higher education, out into the job force.
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