#245 – Esports and Education

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Hello everyone and welcome back to The Edtech Podcast, where we aim to improve the dialogue between “ed” and “tech” for better innovation and impact. This week’s episode is part of our series collaboration with Bett, supported by Pearson. 

So, what’s in this episode?

People

Tom Dore, Education Director, British Esports

Tom is leading our exciting schools project as Head of Education, looking at launching esports leagues in schools and colleges throughout the UK.

Currently still working at a school in Bath, he is an experienced teacher and educator with over 17 years experience in different leadership roles across a full spectrum of state and independent schools. He has also worked as an associate for PIXL, the national partnership of over 2,500 schools in the UK. He is passionate about supporting young people and enabling them to achieve success both inside and outside the classroom.

If you are a student or teacher and are interested in taking part in the schools/colleges league, please visit our Championships hub here or email Tom here.

Shubbs Naika-Taylor, Curriculum Manager for Digital, Coventry College

I am a UK-based lecturer in Games and Esports. I am a curriculum lead for digital at Coventry College, and team manager of the Coventry Crosshairs, an esports grassroots project. I believe in using technology and games to pursue the interest of young people and inspire them to be our success in the future. Esports embeds both tech and fun, what a better way to support them through their future goals.

Camilla Maurice, Curriculum Manager, MidKent College

Experienced Senior Lecturer and Curriculum Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in E-Learning, Business Development, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, and Curriculum Development. Strong research professional with a Post Graduate Certificate in Education focused in Post Compulsory Education and Training from Canterbury Christ Church University and currently studying towards a Masters of Business Administration from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Sophie Bailey, Founder and Host, The Edtech Podcast | Twitter: @podcastedtech, Founder, WorkTripp

Sophie is the founder of the iTunes new and noteworthy, The Edtech Podcast. The mission of The Edtech Podcast is to improve the dialogue between ‘ed’ and ‘tech’ for better innovation, through storytelling. The podcast is downloaded from over 145 countries with the UK, US & Aus in the top 3. Sophie has spoken and moderated at a variety of events including SXSW EDU, Yidan Education Prize, ASU GSV Summit, and the Next Billion Edtech Summit. She is an industry mentor and advisor, including to the UCL Knowledge Lab initiative EDUCATE, a Reimagine Education, GESA Awards, Bett Awards and XPrize Adult Literacy judge, and previous Edtech50 and Edtech Digest winner.

Sophie is passionate about lifelong and everyday learning. If she’s not interviewing a University Vice-Chancellor, Edtech Investor, School Leader, or StartUp about education innovation, she’s engrossed in Teach Your Monster to Read or wrestling her lockdown baby. A keen cyclist, she has recently relocated to West Devon which she considers the English version of the Pyrenees. She is very lucky to work with a distributed team on The Edtech Podcast. Her new venture, WorkTripp, helps companies book high-impact team offsites in memorable locations, with an emphasis on learning and leadership development. 

Quotes from this week’s episode

“All of those students that are actively taking part in Esports at the college tend to do a lot better in their assignments and assessments.”

– Shubbs Naika-Taylor, Curriculum Manager for Digital, Coventry College

“We spent a lot of time prior to us launching our course in September on trying to demystify what Esports was all about.”

– Camilla Maurice, Curriculum Manager, MidKent College

References from this week’s episode

• For more information about Esports BTEC qualifications, visit btecworks.com
• Kaan Arslan – wants to work in Edtech. (Data Analyst)
• Commonwealth Esports 2022
• British Esports Association
• Level 2 BTEC Esports
• Coventry CrossHairs
• Gary at British Esports
• MidKent College Esports 
• Queen Mary’s College Basingstoke  – 100% attendance for 9 weeks 
• Education Summit June  – British Esports 
• League of Legends 
• Overwatch 
• StreetFighter
• Fifa 
• Rocket League 

• WorkTripp – let us help you book your team offsite and make it memorable  

Thank you to Pearson for supporting this episode

This episode of the EdTech Podcast is sponsored by Pearson, the world’s learning company.

In a world of increasing change and technological advancement, the need for people to have transferable skills is more important than ever. Aligned to the future of skills and employability, Pearson BTEC prepares learners for the future world of work by providing them the knowledge, technical and transferable skills they need to be successful in their careers and in their lives.

For more information about Esports BTEC qualifications, visit btecworks.com

Thanks also to Bett for supporting the What Matters in Edtech series

Bett is the global meeting place for the education community. A trusted brand with more than 30 years of heritage, the Bett series promotes the discovery of knowledge and technology to enhance lifelong learning. The Bett series attracts over 60,000 educators, leaders and practitioners alongside more than 1,255+ technology providers from around the globe. For more information go to 

www.bettshow.com/bett

The “What Matters in Edtech Global” Series is produced by The Edtech Podcast and supported by Bett.

Bett is the global meeting place for the education community. A trusted brand with more than 30 years of heritage, the Bett series promotes the discovery of knowledge and technology to enhance lifelong learning. The Bett series attracts over 60,000 educators, leaders and practitioners alongside more than 1,255+ technology providers from around the globe. For more information go to https://www.bettshow.com/bett-global-series

Tell us where you are listening in from

We’d love to hear about innovative technology or approaches you are developing or using in adult education. Leave your stories in the comments below. Alternatively, record a quick free voicemail via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Finally, you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast Facebook page.