Rural areas are often overlooked when it comes to the creation of esports teams, but that doesn’t mean they’re not ready for them.
Many rural areas have a great deal to offer in terms of resources and infrastructure, and they’re often better suited than urban areas for gaming tournaments or competitions.
In this post, we’ll explore why esports can be so beneficial for students in rural schools, what some of their successes have been so far, and how they can be integrated into their curriculum.
Opportunity
Esports provides an opportunity for students from all over the world to connect and compete together regardless of location or circumstance.
This can help students develop social skills and build self-confidence while also improving their academic performance!
Digital Divide
Another benefit of esports is that it can help to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas.
Many rural schools struggle with limited access to technology and the internet, which can make it difficult for students to keep up with their peers in more urban areas.
Esports can help to level the playing field by providing students in rural areas with the same opportunities to learn and compete as those in more urban areas.
Even an existing computer lab can suffice as a general esports space that provides a congregation area and technology for like-minded students.
Being a part of a team
Esports can also be a powerful tool for developing teamwork and leadership skills.
Esports teams are often made up of students from different grades, subjects, and even schools, which can help to break down barriers and foster collaboration and teamwork.
In addition, esports teams often have one or multiple leaders, who will have to organize and manage the team, helping to develop leadership and management skills that can be useful in other areas of life.
Students who are part of a team are more likely to feel connected to their school and their classmates, which means they can better focus on learning and improving their grades. An esports club should also function as an open and co-ed extracurricular activity, allowing anyone to be a part.
Success story
Champlain College – A school that didn’t have a single varsity program on campus threw itself a curve ball when it decided to instead compete online at an intercollegiate level through esports. Allowing students to compete in competitions for scholarship prizing. Champlain has eight computers dedicated to the team and its coach, and another 16 available to the broader student body, who can rent the team’s broadcasting equipment for free. Champlain’s esports program hosts live streams of their matches to the student body and those interested, reaching viewership numbers of over 200+ unique viewers.
With the ever-increasing popularity of esports, rural schools need to consider how to best leverage the potential benefits of this rapidly growing industry. By investing in esports programs, rural schools can help to level the playing field and provide their students with opportunities to succeed in the digital age.
