Verizon Launches Free Scholastic High School Esports League – THE Journal

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Verizon launches free Scholastic High School Esports League

Through its Verizon Innovative Learning HQ package of free learning content and resources, Verizon has launched its first scholastic esports league for high schools. Registration for the league began on August 8 and runs from September 23 to December 13.

Verizon has partnered with nonprofit Games for Change for the initiative, which will provide participating schools with free coaching from esports professionals to prepare the teams in a variety of areas, from technical skills to health and wellness for gamers, the company said in a press release.

Additionally, Verizon Innovative Learning HQ users have access to a variety of free continuing education opportunities, lesson plans and other esports and gaming resources, including:

• Professional development collections for teachers and administrators focused on integrating esports, gaming, and game design into K-12 education;
• Toolkits to bring hackathons, game design challenges and gaming clubs to schools;
• A collection of video resources showcasing esports careers and gaming professionals;
• CareerXRcade, an immersive learning experience from Arizona State University focusing on careers in esports and cybersecurity; and
• Careers: Esports, teaching materials that provide students with project-based learning to learn about the esports industry.

Verizon has also expanded its other Innovative Learning HQ offerings. New resources include:

• A new episode of the augmented reality app TimePod Adventures and four new lessons developed by Discovery Education;
• Spanish-language versions of all McGraw Hill augmented reality activities in math, science, and social studies;
• Four new courses from the PhET project at the University of Colorado Boulder to help math and science teachers use free PhET simulations in their classrooms; and
• Professional development modules and lesson plans from several partner museums and cultural institutions – including the Franklin Institute, Liberty Science Center, Children’s Creativity Museum, Providence Children’s Museum, and Belle Isle Conservancy – were developed in collaboration with NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering.

“We continue to expand and develop our technology-focused curriculum – adding new programs, partners and content – ​​to ensure that more and more students can explore new opportunities,” commented Donna Epps, chief responsible business officer at Verizon, in a statement. “As technology and innovation advance, so does our support. Our new, free offerings continue to meet the needs and interests of today’s students, from gaming to esports to immersive learning, and ensure teachers have the tools to integrate technology into the classroom.”

For more information, visit the Verizon website.