Welcoming Remarks

Keynote: 2024 and Beyond: The Future of Esports in Higher Education

The pace of NCAA D1 institutions creating varsity esports programs is on the rise. About 80 percent of students involved in their varsity esports program are not involved in other activities on campus and keeping those students engaged is critical as we come toward the higher education cliff. The marketability of esports on the professional level has exploded and is receiving sponsorships and partnerships with global brands both endemic and non-endemic. What does this mean for universities and colleges?

Esports is Quickly Evolving—Here’s What You Need to Know

Collegiate esports is quickly maturing. Learn what changes are ahead and what you need to know to run a quality esports program. This panel discusses what’s next in esports, and how new programs can take advantage of progress already made and how current programs can advance to the next level. Assembling stakeholders from within your institution and partnering with consultants are key to planning.

Four Collegiate Esports Programs Illuminated

From a student-centered, academic endeavor with a modest gaming room to varsity-level spectator arenas, esports experts and directors from leading colleges and universities discuss goals and objectives, challenges, and successes of their respective programs. The digital playing field is leveled in esports.

Esports Tech Talk

Anatomy of an Esports Program in 2024: Planning, Infrastructure, Software, Hardware to Streaming

Esports has graduated to the next level. This expert panel explores the full gamut from infrastructure, signal distribution and the technologies needed to equip a university or K-12 esports program. Projectors, consoles, PCs, broadcast equipment, screens, virtual reality, web cameras, interactive whiteboards, keyboards, mice, headsets, and more are needed in these spaces. Understand the YouTube and Twitch streaming ecosystem.

Esports are for Everyone: Building a Mindset of Diversity and Inclusion of Girls in Esports

Scholastic esports provides an authentic space for meaningful social-emotional learning, including the application of diversity and inclusion practices while building community. Educators from NASEF will discuss how to build a K-12 esports program that builds social-emotional attributes such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities while developing career-focused STEAM skills. Not just sharing theories, panelists are educators who are actively leveraging esports in their classes and afterschool programs.

Tripling Student Engagement While Advancing Learning, Career and Life Skills in Classrooms Through Esports

Learn how NASEF provides a framework and support for educators in school districts and classrooms nationwide to introduce esports programs, leveraging students’ love of video games to connect them to career pathways. Doing so helps students compete in today’s workforce by building essential tech and “soft skills.”_x000D_ _x000D_ Hear how students at one Unified School District are having fun as they learn valuable lessons about team building, STEAM skills and much more, offering a real-life illustration of why NASEF’s blend of play and learning is so effective.

Closing Remarks