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[ashecitism]

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/...ol-puts-e-sports-and-gaming-on-the-timetable/

Garnes Vidaregåande Skole, a public high school in the city of Bergen, Norway, is to start teaching e-sports to its students starting in August. The elective class puts e-sports on the same footing as traditional sports such as soccer and handball at the school. 30 or so students enrolled in the program will study five hours a week during the three-year program.

Folk High Schools—boarding schools that offer one year of non-examined training and education—have already offered some e-sports training, but this will be the first time that e-sports find a place in a regular high school.

Students on the program will not simply spend five hours a week playing games at school. While gaming skills are important, the classes will include 90 minutes of physical training optimized for the games in question, with work on reflexes, strength, and endurance. Each class will be split; 15 students will play while the other 15 perform physical exercise. In an interview with Dotablast, Petter Grahl Johnstad, head of the school's science department, says that the students will have their performance graded, with game knowledge and skills, communication, co-operation, and tactical ability all being assessed.

http://dotablast.com/first-public-high-school-in-norway-include-esports-core-curriculum/

DotaBlast: Will the esports subject be elective or mandatory?

Petter Grahl Johnstad: The esports subject will be offered on an elective basis, in the same way as we currently offer sports specializations in handball and football (soccer).

DotaBlast: Are there any precedents in Norway, or is Garnes Vidaregåande Skule the first public school to introduce esports into its core curriculum?

Petter Grahl Johnstad: We are the first school at the upper secondary level in the country to offer esports as a specialization program. There are, however, two folk high schools* in the country that do offer esports.

*Norwegian folk high schools are one-year boarding schools based on the idea of learning for life, not only for occupations and degrees.

DotaBlast: According to an article published by gamer.no, the esports classes will also involve physical training, lifestyle and nutrition advice. Could you please go into more detail?

Petter Grahl Johnstad: In addition to the obligatory physical education subject, the student will have 90 minutes of training orientated towards their specific sport, for example training of reflexes, general body strength and endurance. This training will focus on enhancing the student’s ability to stay focused over a long period of time whilst performing their sport.

DotaBlast: Since three of the games you’ve shortlisted – Dota 2, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike – are team sports, it might be difficult to assess students individually. How would the students’ competencies be assessed and graded?

Petter Grahl Johnstad: Assessing and grading sports skills is always challenging. At our school we already have two team sports – handball and football – with the same difficulties in this regard. Examination will be based partly on theoretical knowledge and partly on gaming skills, ability to cooperate, ability to communicate, mastery of tactics, mastery of strategy, and so forth.

DotaBlast: Like you’ve mentioned before, you have launched a survey and your students can express their choice of game by March 1st. Do they have to choose between the school’s options (Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Dota 2, and Starcraft II) or are they free to come up with their own proposals? What happens if a vast number of students suggest games that are not suitable for study in a high school?

Petter Grahl Johnstad: We aim to offer classes in the two most popular games among our applicants. When people suggest new games to include on the list, such as Smite and Call of Duty, we have included them. These proposals have not been very popular so far, so I do not believe that the scenario you are suggesting will manifest in reality. If many people suggest something that will not work, we will of course take charge of the situation and find a solution that works.

more at the links

 

[Skelter]

Inb4 people argue over the use of "sports" in esports.

 

[injurai]

Inb4 people argue over the use of "sports" in esports.

I mean, sports are extra-curricular, so It sounds like this must be an academic course. /s

 

[FunkyDealer]

Huh, that's interesting. I wonder if it'll be a success.

 

[FZZ]

Soon schools will begin drafting kids to play for their LoL, Dota, CS, and Smash teams

What a time

 

[Soulflarz]

I wish I learned melee in high school :<

 

[NYCmetsfan]

This is ridiculous. Phtsical sports in school is fine as its exercise. Clicking on a key board and directing monsters is not educational. And don't give me its mentally stimulating, they're in school there's a lot of other choices.

Why not get ride of the games and have them just physical exercise with games that also require strategic thinking.

I'd actually be fine with a class that analysed games as art like film class but this is just....

 

[cw_sasuke]

LoL

 

[Annubis]

Teacher: «I'm sorry Sven, you keep feeding. I'm going to have to fail you.»
Student: «But but but... hard counter... and lag!!!»

 

[injurai]

Soon schools will begin drafting kids to play for their LoL, Dota, CS, and Smash teams

What a time

Sounds like Ender's Game.

 

[Some Nobody]

This is ridiculous. Phtsical sports in school is fine as its exercise. Clicking on a key board and directing monsters is not educational. And don't give me its mentally stimulating, they're in school there's a lot of other choices.

Yes, and those are options too. This isn't mandatory, it's an elective. We've had film studies, literature classes, and creative writing. Why not video games? Because people enjoy them too much? I've never understood how a forum that should ostensibly be made up of video game fans seem to have so many people who don't like seeing video games make it out of the same places they've always been.

If done correctly, eSports could teach kids how to cooperate in small groups in a setting that they would find comfortable, if not familiar. I'm not sure how this is a bad thing. I wish someone in America tried something similar. It's one class--you'd still have to take four years of English, Science, History, Math and a lot of other courses before you escape graduate.

 

[entremet]

LoL

Well played. Subtle.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Soon schools will begin drafting kids to play for their LoL, Dota, CS, and Smash teams

What a time

FGC stay losing

 

[Truant]

In Norway, we actually have a separate word for sports activities that actually involve physical involvement. It's a nice way to avoid that debate.

 

[Waaghals]

Elective class? That is like two hours a week or something.

Oh it's five hours? Then they are going to be busy, if it is anything like the Biaathlon line here it just means that they will get that on top on normal classes.

 

[NobleGundam]

I wish I learned melee in high school :<

Ahh the good ol' days of counter strike and melee during lunch at the computer lab...

 

[mdubs]

 

[Mecha]

.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

This is cool, it should be useful in developing communication skills, leadership, strategy, and teamwork.

 

[Rush_Khan]

This is like that Video Game High School series by freddiew.

 

[Madness]

the classes will include 90 minutes of physical training optimized for the games in question, with work on reflexes, strength, and endurance. 

Sounds kind of confusing? I mean what kind of physical strength and reflexes optimize you to play Counterstrike? Also, I'm curious, an M rated first person shooter being played and taught to high school students who wouldn't be able to probably buy the game officially no?

 

[PBY]

Yeah... I think this kinda sucks. Kids need exercise.

 

[Tregard]

This sounds sort of ridiculous, even as a fan of eSports.

 

[Griss]

This is ridiculous, half the point of playing sports in school is to get physical exercise. This is just a way of avoiding that, and it won't be good for health.

Anyone who wants to get into eSports has all the time in the world after school.

 

[Rinさとり]

We are so productive in Norway

 

[Waaghals]

This is ridiculous, half the point of playing sports in school is to get physical exercise. This is just a way of avoiding that, and it won't be good for health.

Anyone who wants to get into eSports has all the time in the world after school.

Unless I have misunderstood this completely (again) this will not replace PE which is mandatory.

 

[Africanus]

There are worse electives. I have no problem with this.

 

[Skelter]

Yeah... I think this kinda sucks. Kids need exercise.

Sure helps the American school system. This could have a positive effect on the kids. Who knows? Also, regular physical education is mandatory or is everyone not reading the article?

Spoiler

I think eSports, twitch and all that shit is stupid but eh, could be interesting.

What's insane is they're going to have 980ti's for games like Dota 2 and Counter Strike.

 

[Keinu]

What is wrong with having this as an elective class? This isn't at the expense of normal gym class which they allready have as mandatory. This is actually extra exercise.

 

[Chariot]

Take that, America!

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Yes, and those are options too. This isn't mandatory, it's an elective. We've had film studies, literature classes, and creative writing. Why not video games? Because people enjoy them too much? I've never understood how a forum that should ostensibly be made up of video game fans seem to have so many people who don't like seeing video games make it out of the same places they've always been.

If done correctly, eSports could teach kids how to cooperate in small groups in a setting that they would find comfortable, if not familiar. I'm not sure how this is a bad thing. I wish someone in America tried something similar. It's one class--you'd still have to take four years of English, Science, History, Math and a lot of other courses before you escape graduate.

Playing video games is not the same as art criticism. If that was the angle they were taking it I'd be a lot better. E-sports does nothing physical sports couldnt do and is actively worse than those. And sports or other physical activities teach how to cooperate in small groups.

 

[MUnited83]

This is ridiculous, half the point of playing sports in school is to get physical exercise. This is just a way of avoiding that, and it won't be good for health.

Anyone who wants to get into eSports has all the time in the world after school.

Avoiding how, and what? You still have to play regular sports. It's mandatory.

Playing video games is not the same as art criticism. If that was the angle they were taking it I'd be a lot better. E-sports does nothing physical sports couldnt do and is actively worse than those. And sports or other physical activities teach how to cooperate in small groups.

It's not replacing regular sports.

Yeah... I think this kinda sucks. Kids need exercise.

^

 

[Jarsonot]

I'm a teacher in Illinois and schools in our district are also implementing esports. One school piloted the program last year, the others are following suit this year. I'm the coach!

We're fielding a League of Legends team. Jokes are certainly made, but a lot of people seem to be on board, including our athletic director and the district athletic director. It's a cool opportunity for some of these kids. Some (by no means all) of the kids aren't athletically inclined, but can now get the feel of teamwork, comraderie, and all of those perks normally reserved for the more traditional sports.

 

[Skelter]

Avoiding how, and what? You still have to play regular sports. It's mandatory.


It's not replacing regular sports.



^

I think reading should be mandatory in school. Some people obviously need it here.

I'm a teacher in Illinois and schools in our district are also implementing esports. One school piloted the program last year, the others are following suit this year. I'm the coach!

We're fielding a League of Legends team. Jokes are certainly made, but a lot of people seem to be on board, including our athletic director and the district athletic director. It's a cool opportunity for some of these kids. Some (by no means all) of the kids aren't athletically inclined, but can now get the feel of teamwork, comraderie, and all of those perks normally reserved for the more traditional sports.

Shame it's League and not Dota 2.

Spoiler

I kid, I kid.

What did the other school have to say after having such a program? I bet the kids must have loved it but what are the educational skills be taught to students? As an outsider I'm kind of interested.

 

[PdotMichael]

This is cool, it should be useful in developing communication skills, leadership, strategy, and teamwork.

See everytime you don't instantly mute everyone in a first person shooter online game.

 

[iBlue]

That's ridicuolus

 

[Some Nobody]

Playing video games is not the same as art criticism. If that was the angle they were taking it I'd be a lot better. E-sports does nothing physical sports couldnt do and is actively worse than those. And sports or other physical activities teach how to cooperate in small groups.

If you're garbage at physical sports you'll play them but probably never get the benefits that others do. This ameliorates that issue. And no, playing video games isn't art criticism--but then there's classes for that with video games too. Or at least, there should be. We're probably due for gaming to allow for auteurs who've actually studied the medium rather than just computer programming.

 

[entremet]

Norway seems to be doing good with their educational system.

Don't hate.

http://worldtop20.org/the-worlds-best-20-education-systems-rankings-third-quarter-report

Also, do people know what electives are?

 

[Sesha]

Figures that it would be in Bergen.

 

[ar4757]

Hey I'm part Norwegian.

Go Norway

 

[Degen]

Physical sports are mainly taught for the exercise though... Not feeling the idea

 

[Jarsonot]

This is ridiculous. Phtsical sports in school is fine as its exercise. Clicking on a key board and directing monsters is not educational. And don't give me its mentally stimulating, they're in school there's a lot of other choices.

Why not get ride of the games and have them just physical exercise with games that also require strategic thinking.

I'd actually be fine with a class that analysed games as art like film class but this is just....

Is it still okay if kids want to be in band, or art clubs, or chess teams, or the myriad other types of activities they enjoy? Could you give me a list of approved activities for these students extra-curricular time?

 

[Halabane]

sounds like a new version of chess club...

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Weird. I like the idea of adding stuff like video game critique/creation to curriculums, but I can't say I care for adding eSports to a curriculum. Sounds like an afterschool activity.

sounds like a new version of chess club...

Sounds similar in some ways, yes. Do schools offer gaming clubs as electives? I remember doing that stuff after school or during our breaks.

 

[RobotMoses]

Physical sports are mainly taught for the exercise though... Not feeling the idea

PE is still mandatory. This is in addition to PE. This is mentioned several times in the thread.

 

[Brainfreeze]

I wish my school had offered something like this. We were so far behind in curriculum that we were still forced to take typing classes and basic computer skills for the first 2 years of high school, even though we'd all been typing since elementary school. They really thought we were ahead of the game with those classes too.

We had a small Mario Tennis club in Middle School, but they forced diversification by limiting you to each club for one semester, which was dumb and arbitrary, so that never got the chance to develop into anything either.

I could have really used something like this to keep me from feeling like shit at school all the time, at the very least.

 

[CHC]

This is ridiculous. Phtsical sports in school is fine as its exercise. Clicking on a key board and directing monsters is not educational. And don't give me its mentally stimulating, they're in school there's a lot of other choices.

Why not get ride of the games and have them just physical exercise with games that also require strategic thinking.

I'd actually be fine with a class that analysed games as art like film class but this is just....

Pretty much agree on all counts, this is just a bullshit fluff class. It might be fun but it's not going to teach them anything that could not be learned better with other material. I also agree strongly about the idea of a class that analyzes games in a critical / scholarly way - that would be much more valid. If students can be taught to write about something they feel passionate about, that's a great way to learn.

What is wrong with having this as an elective class? This isn't at the expense of normal gym class which they allready have as mandatory. This is actually extra exercise.

To me, the problem is that it's taking up school time. Let's be real here, high school is not really that demanding. You're done at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, and most days you only have a couple hours of real homework to do if you actually buckle down and get it done efficiently. E-sports are fine as a pursuit, but school is a time to learn and not necessarily to do stuff that you want to do / would do anyway. Being taken out of your comfort zone is a big part of what schools are all about, and you can't really say how that will better you until it's already happened. Offering a class where you pretty much just play videogames is just adding an obvious choice that isn't really going to challenge or provoke students who take it to do something that they wouldn't normally do. Obviously I'm generalizing a bit but that's my take on it.

 

[TimeEffect]

In Norway, we actually have a separate word for sports activities that actually involve physical involvement. It's a nice way to avoid that debate.

...Real sports?

 

[Unstable]

The future is weird. Kinda rad tho

 

[IncognitoPanda]

Huh, I live here and I didn't even know.

As a singular course "for fun", it'ok, but this borders on the ridicolous for me. I have nothing against competitive gaming, but this feels kind of forced to me. It is of course ok to disagree with me.