Starting an eSports Program at Your District (South Cook)
June 16 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
$25Millions of people have tuned in to eSports tournaments in recent years, with the industry on pace to have higher viewership than traditional sports leagues and colleges offering full-ride scholarships to eSports athletes. How can you ride this wave and expand your district’s sports program to include digital offerings?
This workshop will introduce you to the world of eSports and give you the solid foundation needed to start a stable program at your school or district. You’ll learn why eSports is beneficial to K-12 students, how to get your club or team started, and how a coach can be successful (even without heavy gaming experience). We’ll also provide live demonstrations of some of today’s most popular eSports games as well as connect you with schools that already have flourishing eSports programs in place.
As time permits, we’ll also spend time exploring Minecraft EDU, which is flexible enough to use as an eSports program, an after school club, or integrated into curricular lessons.
PRESENTER BIO
Eric Santos
Eric Santos (he/him) is a Regional Educational Technology Coordinator for the Learning Technology Center, serving the greater Chicagoland region. Eric believes in advocating for greater equity in educational opportunities as well as engaging, inspiring, and empowering all educators through effective edtech utilization practices.
A National Board Certified Educator with 15 years experience in public education, Eric has spent over a decade as a leader in his field, including as both a Google for Education Certified Trainer and Coach. He also holds a pair of Master’s degrees, from Dominican University (Educational Technology) and from National Louis University (Curriculum and Instruction).
He can be contacted esantos@ltcillinois.org.