Esports Symposium

View All > 21st Century Schools Workshop

Explore successful models and approaches to building a sustainable eSports program

Purpose

21st Century Schools recognize that esports are a powerful way to engage all kinds of learners and develop a variety of 21st Century Skills.

Overview

Join us for an engaging 2.5-hour symposium focused on the rapidly expanding world of esports in K-12 education. Discover the potential benefits and challenges of integrating esports programs into the curriculum while learning from real-life examples of successful implementation.

The symposium kicks off with an inspiring keynote address, followed by three breakout presentations from schools that have taken unique approaches to developing sustainable esports programs. Gain valuable insights from a diverse panel discussion featuring thought leaders in the K-12 esports space.

Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or simply interested in the future of esports in education, this symposium will offer valuable perspectives and practical advice for those looking to bring the excitement and benefits of competitive gaming to the classroom.

Symposium Highlights

Gain a deeper understanding of esports’s current state and future potential in K-12 education.
Learn about the benefits of integrating esports into the curriculum, including student engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Hear from schools that have successfully implemented esports programs, and explore their unique approaches.
Discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a sustainable esports program, including funding, infrastructure, and student participation.
Engage in a thought-provoking panel discussion with industry experts, exploring the more significant implications of esports in education and society.
Connect with fellow educators and administrators, and leave with actionable strategies for incorporating esports into your school or district.

Confirmed Presenters

School	Description	Area of School	Presenter/s
Daigon Esports	Daigon Esports	School Wide	Elliot Mack
Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi	Developing esports as a non-gamer and how esports can benefit your students	Middle School, High School	Amelia King
Korea International School	Effect and Impact of Esports Integration in K-12 settings	School Wide	Dr. Evgenii Permiakov
Anglo-American School of Sofia	I'm a School Principal and Esports Coach: Overcoming Challenges of Starting and Sustaining Esports	School Wide	Dr. Matt Horne
Renaissance College	Esports events in your school using existing hardware - Sharing what works and how to make it happen.	School Wide	Stu Lowe & Jason Prohaska
Dulwich College Beijing	From playing to making, how to set up a competitive game development competition in your school	Elementary, Middle School, High School	Jared Rigby
XCL World Academy	Student Agency Drives Success-Developing Esports as an ECA		Jennifer Lim Nicholas Tan

Workshop Structure

HK Time (GMT+8)	Length	Agenda Item
16:00	15m	Introductions
16:15	20m	Guest Speaker Keynote
16:35	20m	Showcase 1
16:55	5m	Transition
17:00	20m	Showcase 2
17:20	25m	Panel Discussion
17:45	20m	Showcase 3 (20m)
18:05	5m	Transition to Social
18:10	20m	Breakout Conversations Around Areas of Common Interest
18:30	5m	Wrapup / Closing Thoughts
18:40	..	The breakout room is open for anyone who wishes to keep chatting.

Who Should Attend and Why?

Directors of Technology
Activities Coordinators
Curriculum Coordinators
Directors of Learning
School-Based Leaders
Director of Education for School Groups
Teachers
Instructional Coaches
STEM and Makerspace Coordinators

We encourage teams to attend the workshop to learn from the multiple perspectives presented. This will support schools and their teams in subsequent internal engagements, including discussion, design, and undertaking team reflections.

Pricing for Symposium

$150USD for one ticket
$125USD for two tickets
$99USD for three to five tickets
$88USD for six or more

Recordings License

$225USD
Allows purchasers to share recordings beyond the original named attendees (must be purchased with at last one ticket)

Partners

Who's Presenting

Elliot Mack

Elliot Mack, co-founder and CEO of Daigon Esports, is dedicated to helping International Schools tap into the power of video games and esports for developing critical future-proof skills and empowering students. Drawing on his experience launching Daigon Esports' International School Esports leagues and innovative gaming after-school clubs, Elliot passionately champions video games as an interest-driven tool for fostering the three essential WEF Education 4.0 skills: problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability.
Daigon Esports' gaming after-school club, designed as an interest-based, flexible, and incidental learning experience, aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and traditional curricula. In this dynamic environment, Elliot continually explores the potential of video games to boost students' 21st-century skills, uncover career paths, and hone "soft" skills essential in the age of AI.

As proud international school alumni, Elliot and one of his co-founders Younes forged a strong bond through their shared love for gaming, leading to the creation of Daigon Esports. This unique connection has equipped Elliot with deep insights into the transformative power of esports for cultivating international friendships, promoting inclusion, and driving empowerment. At various conferences and events, Elliot advocates for integrating video games into education to prepare students for future challenges and opportunities in an inclusive manner.

Stu Lowe

Vice Principal Learning Technology, RCHK
Stu is passionate about students learning through creative invention and has worked as a class teacher, head of technology, edtech advisor and Vice Principal across ESF schools. He talks at events across the world and is a maker and gamer both in and out of school.

Jason Prohaska

Educational Technologies Lead for ESF

Amelia King

Amelia is the Director of Educational Technology and Innovation at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, where she supports staff and students to improve their digital and technological capabilities both in the classroom and in wider school life. She is passionate about developing creativity and a Maker Mindset in both adults and children, and believes in the importance of ‘playing’ with technology in order to develop confidence further. Her areas of interest include VR and AI to augment education, and how STEAM skills can be developed across all areas of the curriculum.

Matt Horne

School Principal, Anglo-American School of Sofia
I've been a school administrator in the US and overseas for 15 years; I've led schools in Oregon, Hawaii, Colombia, and Bulgaria. I have 2 sons: one in high school and one in university. Since 2021, I have coached a successful Esports team as part of athletics and activities at our school. I keep a full, online profile at http://horne.ws

Dr. Evgenii Permiakov

EdTech Coach

Dr. Evgenii Permiakov is an educator, cinematographer, gamer, educational technology specialist, and father. He works as an Educational Technology Coach at the Korea International School in Seoul.

Treading a path of innovation and creativity, Evgenii is an educational influencer whose true passion is to explore, inspire, and share. Evgenii produces digital content around educational technology, innovation, Minecraft Education, and cinematic storytelling.

Jared Rigby

Jared is a computer science teacher and edtech integrator at Dulwich College Beijing.

He is passionate about exploring the benefits of games within education through gamification, serious games and esports. He founded the esports offering at DCB and helped to cofound CHISEL (The China International School Esports League) with other like-minded teachers in the region. Additionally, he also organises the Dulwich Game Jam, an annual game-making competition where students can share their games with a range of industry partners.

Outside of work, he is a contributing author to the Raspberry Pi Foundation's Hello World magazine and an indie game developer, having released his first game ""Tonalities"" on Steam in September.

Jennifer Lim

In the world of education and Esports, Jennifer Lim is a unique blend of passion and dedication. Her journey into Esports began when her daughter became a competitive CODm player at 13, sparking Jennifer's enthusiasm for this dynamic field despite her struggle with vertigo. Jennifer proudly holds the NASEF Scholastic Fellow title and is a dedicated MYP Design educator. She also plays a crucial role as a Service and Personal Project Coordinator, instilling values like open-mindedness, respect, and global citizenship in her students.

Outside the classroom, Jennifer is a fearless athlete, frequently found on the softball field and in the Muay Thai gym, embracing physical challenges with unwavering spirit. At home, her cats add a delightful touch of whimsy to her life.
Jennifer is a passionate networker, driven by an insatiable curiosity about the world. Her life experiences have taught her the value of savoring life's journey. Her boundless passion for Esports and education continues to inspire her as she recognizes the limitless potential within young minds.

Justin Hardman

Justin has a passion to support schools in better integration of technology into school programs with a focus on strategy, leadership and planning for systemic change. He has a background in programming and web development including development of a customized learning platform that was featured in conferences from Washington DC, Shanghai and Singapore and in international ed-tech publications.

He was previously Director of Technology at Hong Kong International School where he led the school through a variety of digital learning initiatives including development of a customized solutions, leading a technology planning process and implementing at 1:1 laptop rollout.

Justin has a Bachelors in Economics from the University of Queensland, is a Google Certified Trainer and an Apple Distinguished Educator. He is a New Zealand and Australian citizen but has lived in Hong Kong longer than anywhere else.

Benjamin Sheridan

Ben Sheridan has been a proud educator for 18 years. He has taught in international schools in Thailand, India, Cambodia, Korea, and Indonesia. Ben has worked as a classroom teacher, learning innovation coach, technology coordinator, instructional designer, university lecturer, and consultant. Ben is passionate about using sound pedagogy together with innovative technology to accelerate learning. He feels technology can be leveraged to enhance literacy, increase student motivation and engagement, and empower students to take control of their learning. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a focus on professional learning.

Dates: Wednesday, 6 December 2023

Location: Online

Time: 16:00- 18:30

Price: $88USD - $150USD; Pricing for Symposium

$150USD for one ticket
$125USD for two tickets
$99USD for three to five tickets
$88USD for six or more

Recordings License
$225USD
Allows purchasers to share recordings beyond the original named attendees (must be purchased with at last one ticket)

Presenting

Attend Event

	AI For All Symposium	September 20, 2025

21st Century Schools Workshop - Wednesday, 6 December 2023

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Who's Presenting

Other Upcoming Events

View All > 21st Century Schools Workshop

Who's Presenting

Other Upcoming Events

Justin Hardman

CEO & Founder

Lii Jing

Marketing Manager

Kelly Gurung

Events & Marketing Coordinator

Butch Balsomo

Design Specialist

Henry Dela Cruz

Executive Assistant

Fiona Chee

Finance & Operations

Judi Dela Cruz

Administrative Assistant

Let's Change Learning Together