Building an Inclusive Esports Program: Strategies for Engaging All Students

Outline

1. Introduction (5 minutes)
- Welcome participants and outline the session objectives. Provide a brief overview of the session's structure and what attendees can expect to learn.

2. Understanding Esports and Its Benefits (10 minutes)
- Present an overview of esports, highlighting its rapid growth and the educational benefits it offers. Use multimedia elements such as videos and infographics to make the content engaging. Allow a few minutes for participants to ask questions and clarify any points.

3. Creating an Inclusive Esports Program (15 minutes)
- Discuss the key components of an inclusive esports program, focusing on accessibility, diversity, and community building. Provide practical examples and case studies to illustrate successful implementations. Pause briefly for any questions from the audience.

4. Identifying and Addressing Barriers (10 minutes)
- Highlight common barriers to participation in esports and present strategies to overcome them. Share real-world examples and solutions that have been effective in other schools. Open the floor for questions to ensure understanding and address specific concerns.

5. Fostering a Supportive Gaming Community (10 minutes)
- Explore strategies to promote empathy, teamwork, and leadership within the esports program. Provide concrete examples and best practices. Allow time for participants to ask questions and discuss how these strategies can be applied in their own contexts.

6. Developing an Action Plan (5 minutes)
- Guide participants through the process of creating a personalized action plan to implement an inclusive esports program in their schools. Provide a clear framework and actionable steps. Encourage participants to take notes and ask any final questions.

7. Q&A and Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
- Recap the key points discussed during the session and provide final thoughts. Open the floor for any remaining questions and encourage participants to share their thoughts. Finish with a call to action, inspiring attendees to take the next steps in building their inclusive esports programs.

Supporting research

E Is for Everybody: Diversity and Inclusion in Esports:
https://www.educause.edu/ecar/research-publications/2021/expanding-esports-in-higher-ed-benefits-and-guidance-for-new-esports-programs/e-is-for-everybody-diversity-and-inclusion-in-esports

Esports: A New Frontier for Inclusion Through Competitive Game Engagement:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-14775-3_19

Affordances and Constraints of Integrating Esports into Higher Education:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10639-024-12482-9

Esports Can Increase STEM Equity in Higher Education:
https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2019/06/esports-can-increase-stem-equity-higher-education