Designing for Success: E-Sports in K-12 Education

Room: Hidalgo
Presenter: Jennifer Jasper - Meteor Education
Target Audience: General
Experience Level:  Beginner
Strand: Starting A Program

E-Sports, the competitive world of online gaming, has gained immense popularity among students and is rapidly shaping the educational landscape. This course is designed to explore the integration of E-Sports within the K-12 educational environment.

By understanding the history, benefits, team elements and key considerations in designing E-Sports spaces, participants will gain the knowledge and insights needed to create engaging and conducive environments for E-Sports in K-12 schools.

Level up with Elementary Esports

Room: Cameron
Presenter: Elvira Martinez -  Los Fresnos CISD
Co-Presenter: Claudia Villanueva
Target Audience: Elementary
Experience Level: All
Strand: Starting A Program

Learn how to level up by starting your own Elementary Esports Club! Guaranteed to boost student engagement, attendance, grades, SEL, and communication. Discover how inclusive Esports is and the potential it has to open new career pathways for your students. Get ready to become a GAME CHANGER with Elementary Esports!

Digital Citizenship and SEL in Esports

Room: Willacy
Presenter: Omar Lopez -  Region One ESC
Target Audience: General
Experience Level: All
Strand: SEL and Academics

Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how scholastic esports can serve as a valuable tool for nurturing digital citizenship and SEL skills among students, preparing them for success in both the digital and real-world environments.

Esports is STEM! The Landscape of Academic Esports

Room: Hidalgo
Presenter: Dr. Katrina Adkins - USAEL
Target Audience: General
Experience Level:  Beginner
Strand: College and Career Connection

Schools and communities are tasked with preparing students for the job market and/or college and esports is a clear path to many jobs and degrees. From broadcasting, marketing, programming, and journalism, to shout-casting, sales, and accountants, esports has paved the way for millions of students. Join Vice President of the United States Academic Esports League, and College Professor, Dr Katrina Adkins, and go on a journey through time to discover how esports can make a difference in the lives of your community and students.

Using the Power of Video Games to Boost Math Scores

Room: Cameron
Presenter: Bilma Paez - Accelerate Learning/STEMscopes
Co-Presenter: Elizabeth Esparza
Target Audience: General
Experience Level: All
Strand: SEL and Academics

What if you could use today's most popular video games to teach TEKS based math? Teach math skills: Geometry, The Number System, Measurement and Data with Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, Minecraft amongst other video games. Engage your students by allowing them to take the drivers seat into the world of exciting video games all while learning mastering the TEKS!

How to Start an Esports Program

Room: Willacy
Presenter: Michaela Thu Frank -  Texas Scholastic Esports Federation
Co-Presenter: Danielle Johnson
Target Audience: General
Experience Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Strand: Starting A Program

"Esports is a rapidly growing industry, and more and more schools and organizations are starting their own esports programs. If you are interested in starting an esports program, this session will provide you with the information and resources you need to get started.

In this session, you will learn about the following:

What is esports?

The benefits of having an esports program

How to get started with esports

How to build a successful esports program

Resources for starting and running an esports program"

Unlocking Potential: Why Esports Deserves a Seat in Every Classroom

Room: Hidalgo
Presenter: Dr. Kristen Craft - Generation Esports
Target Audience: General
Experience Level:  All
Strand: SEL and Academics

In response to the escalating mental health crisis in schools and the urgent call by the US Surgeon General for a 'swift and coordinated response' to safeguard youth mental health, educational institutions are actively seeking evidence-based solutions. Promising research has emerged, suggesting that the intersection of social-emotional learning (SEL), academics, and esports can offer a compelling avenue for enhancing youth mental health. While it's clear that esports have successfully engaged some of the more high-risk and disengaged students in our schools, the question remains: What happens once these students enter our classrooms?

There is transformative potential of esports as a tool to address the pressing issue of youth mental health. By strategically integrating SEL, academic curriculum, and esports, educators have the opportunity to impact the three crucial determinants of mental well-being: self-esteem, self-efficacy, and relationship building. Through this approach, teachers can create authentic and engaging moments that serve as proactive measures for safeguarding mental health in our youth.

In a landscape where mental health challenges among students have reached alarming levels, educators should be advocating for a holistic approach that not only recognizes the potential of esports in education but also leverages it as a catalyst for positive change. By nurturing self-esteem, fostering self-efficacy, and promoting meaningful relationships, educators can empower students to thrive academically and emotionally in an increasingly complex world.

Managing a District Esports Match

Room: Cameron
Presenter: Carlos Garza -  La Joya ISD
Co-Presenter: Kaylee Delgado
Target Audience: General
Experience Level: Intermediate
Strand: Technology

Using Challonge to manage a full district event and individual tournaments.

From Strangers to Champions

Room: Willacy
Presenter: Afife Pestana -  Vanguard Academy
Co-Presenter: Oscar Flores and Gerardo Flores
Target Audience: General
Experience Level: All
Strand: Starting A Program

Last year’s R1 Esports tournament winners talk about their experience from creating the team and working together to winning first place 

The Benefits of Esports: Student's View Q&A

Room: Hidalgo
Presenter: Dr. Claudia Carranza - South Texas ISD
Co-Presenters: Science Academy Esports  Members
Target Audience: General
Experience Level: All
Strand: Recruitment and Sustainability

It is wonderful to hear about the benefits of esports programs from the coaches and teachers. But it's vital to know how the students feel about what esports can do for them. Five of Science Academy's students will tell you some of the big impacts esports has made in their lives and take your questions about the benefits of esports from the student's point of view.

Level Up with Elementary Esports

Room: Cameron
Presenter: Elvira Martinez -  Los Fresnos CISD
Co-Presenter: Claudia Villanueva
Target Audience: Elementary
Experience Level: All
Strand: Starting A Program

Learn how to level up by starting your own Elementary Esports Club! Guaranteed to boost student engagement, attendance, grades, SEL, and communication. Discover how inclusive Esports is and the potential it has to open new career pathways for your students. Get ready to become a GAME CHANGER with Elementary Esports!

Careers in Gaming and Interactive Media

Room: Willacy
Presenter: Michaela Thu Frank -  Texas Scholastic Esports Federation
Co-Presenter: Danielle Johnson
Target Audience: General
Experience Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Strand: College and Career Connection

The esports industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and there are more career opportunities than ever before. This session will explore the different types of jobs available in gaming and interactive media within the esports industry, the skills and qualifications required, and how to break into the field.