I’ve long been envious of children who get to use VR units and the like in modern classrooms, but a new initiative by a not-for-profit organization over in the UK confirms to me I was born 20 years too early; the government-backed scheme plans to use video games to teach computing skills to youths that could see them earn big bucks as esports players.
It’s a plan put forward by Digital Schoolhouse, a company that seeks to use “revolutionize computing education” in an effort to “futureproof” the industry’s workforce.
As reported by Sky, one of the games offered on the course will be Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which has been chosen as an introduction to the esports scene.
Digital Storehouse explains in more detail:
“Together with Nintendo Switch, the Digital Schoolhouse Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Team Battle is estimated to reach over 6000 pupils in schools & colleges across the UK this academic year.
This immersive experience provides a unique insight into the creative digital sector, to promote homegrown talent and to enable students to aspire to careers pathways they may not have otherwise considered.”
Kalpesh Tailor, head of communications at Nintendo UK, believes the program will “inspire the next generation of young minds across the UK”.
It certainly beats those awful cross-country runs they used to make me do back in the old days, that’s for sure.
