Need some convincing about the power of esports in schools?
In a recent article authored for District Administration, OCDE Executive Director of Educational Services Tom Turner explains how esports is connecting students through inclusive social-emotional instruction that translates into valuable opportunities for personal growth.
Turner said that through the work of the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) in conjunction with OCDE and the University of California, Irvine, a team of educators has authored a curriculum that specifically aligns with important education standards, such as Next Generation Science Standards, English Language Arts, International Society for Technology in Education as well as Career Technical Education.
“NASEF’s work with scholastic esports explicitly connects interest-based learning with a written code of conduct; a safe, engaging, inclusive environment; direct instruction of positive expectations and digital responsibility; and a place where every student is engaged,” he said.
Turner says esports is often misunderstood, and there is a difference between a healthy relationship with gaming and one that is negatively affecting your mental health.
“When you open your mind to esports beyond stereotypes and into the realm of an integrated and cohesive system of support, all of these questions get answered while educators can go about supporting the whole child.”
And here are some of the other education news stories we’ve been following:
- The Garden Grove Unified School District this week reversed its reopening plans for starting in-person instruction next month. A statement released from the district said students will no longer return to campuses in October.
- In related news, a group made up of teachers and parents from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District is urging district leaders to delay reopening plans out of safety concerns.
- Governor Gavin Newsom Thursday signed two bills as part of his worker protection package aimed to help California employees stay safe at work and get the workers’ compensation support needed if exposed to COVID-19 while in the workplace.
- The state Legislature is recommending Governor Gavin Newsom sign Assembly Bill 1835, which could significantly change the state’s K-12 Local Control Funding Formula.
- While Los Angeles County will most likely not welcome all students back to school for another six to eight weeks, recent guidance from county health officials will allow districts to bring back students in need of “specialized support and services” in small groups.
- Teachers in the Irvine and Santa Ana unified school districts shared their perspectives with the Voice of OC about what being a teacher looks like during a global pandemic.
- While the recent decline of new coronavirus cases has allowed Orange County districts to reopen schools later this month, district leaders in areas such as Santa Ana and Anaheim are making tough decisions to keep students on distance learning until COVID-19 cases in more densely populated communities improve.
- Many California families are opting out of kindergarten this year and are choosing to enroll their children in preschool, due to concerns about sending children to school for the first time via distance learning, EdSource reported.
- Earlier this week, Orange County civil rights pioneer Felicitas Mendez, who helped bring an end to forced segregation in California’s education system and paved the way for school integration across the United States was the subject of a Google doodle tribute.
- The Los Angeles Unified School District this week announced that mandatory COVID-19 testing will be required for all staff and students prior to returning back to school. The district also announced it will set up a website that will provide detailed information about coronavirus outbreaks by campus and even by classroom.
- As a number of schools across Orange County finalize their plans to welcome back students, the OC Health Care Agency discussed three things to know about COVID-19 testing for students and school employees.
- And finally, on Sept. 25, the Angels Baseball Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Anaheim-Cypress will distribute school clothes, Angels Kids Club backpacks, Angels gear and face coverings to children in the community.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.