Relevance: Academic esports aligns with the Career and Technical Education (CTE) field by providing students with hands-on, career-oriented experiences that foster critical skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and digital literacy. These competencies directly contribute to emerging careers in technology, game development, and digital media, while offering pathways for students to explore technical and career-focused education in a rapidly evolving industry. Value: 1) Learn to use esports to prepare students for future careers: Discover how esports programs can cultivate skills that align with emerging job markets. 2) Explore strategies for engaging students in future-ready technology education: Understand how to integrate esports to spark curiosity and build foundational skills in critical areas. 3) Implement methods to support and empower underrepresented students: Use esports to create inclusive opportunities and pathways for diverse populations. 4) Develop practical approaches for educators to create sustainable esports programs: Obtain guidelines for designing stackable credentials and initiatives that ensure students are equipped for future challenges.
Presenter: Ben O'Gradney is a former educator and a founding member and CSO of the USAEL/ Mastery Coding and works to improve the educational marketplace with an emphasis on 21st century delivery systems and curriculum that propel students' achievements. Ben's work has built a strong knowledge of best practice and professional development that moves education toward a focus on standards and technology and their effect on teaching and learning. Through his work Ben has had the opportunity to work closely with the largest to the smallest school districts in the country. He has helped plan, implement and monitor curriculum, professional development and school wide improvement plans that have turned failing schools into some of the top achieving schools in the country.
