Embedded Files
Welcome to CTE Esports at Sylmar CHS. This program lives inside Production and Managerial Arts (CTE Pathway 113), one of California's state-recognized Career Technical Education pathways in the Arts, Media, and Entertainment sector. It's the behind-the-scenes side of live events and media: planning and running a production, broadcasting it, telling its story, and managing the people and budget that make it happen. Students learn by producing real events for real audiences - as competitors, analysts, broadcasters, producers, marketers, and event operators - and finish with a portfolio of work they can show a college or an employer. The skills transfer well beyond gaming, into live event production, broadcast and streaming media, marketing, and venue and team management.
Why do I need to commit 2 years to the program? Why can't it just be done in one year?
Why do I need to commit 2 years to the program? Why can't it just be done in one year?
Year 1 - Local
Year 1 - Local
The "Brawlstars Esports Capstone Tournament" run by Danny/Diego Dominguez with prizes and 64 entrants kept the school open after dark
Your audience is the room. You produce, compete, and present for your classmates and your school.
You try everything. Students rotate through every role - competitor, analyst, broadcaster, producer, marketer, event operator - before choosing one.
The projects have guardrails. Assignments come with clear directions and a defined finish line, so you learn the craft before you carry the risk.
You learn how the industry works. Guest speakers, career research, and a look at how real events, teams, and broadcasts are actually built.
You build fundamentals. Streaming and production basics, game and match analysis, design and communication skills, teamwork under pressure.
You leave with a foundation. A set of demonstrated skills and a clear sense of which role fits you.
Year 2 - Outreach
Year 2 - Outreach
The Smash Bros annual tournaments are often run by Sylmar Esports alumni. The 4 tournament organizers (center) are all Spartans. Smith is sporting the Sylmar Soccer T supporting his athletes!
Your audience is outside the building. You produce for real events, real clients, and real communities beyond our campus.
You go deep in one lane. Students specialize and build a serious body of evidence in the role they chose.
The projects have real stakes. Open-ended problems with budgets, deadlines, and people counting on the outcome.
You work alongside the industry. Client projects, informational interviews, job shadows, internships, and critique from working professionals.
You earn credentials. Industry certifications and advanced technical skills that carry weight on an application.
You leave with proof. A capstone project and a portfolio you present publicly and can show a college or an employer.
We will spend Year 1 becoming masters of the local tournament before we officially rep our campus.
We will spend Year 1 becoming masters of the local tournament before we officially rep our campus.
Each week Spartans will be required to organize, recruit, play, manage, shoutcast, record, edit and post an Esports tournament hosted by the class. Those who have participated in gaming tournaments know that this chaotic environment tests even the most experienced event managers with the complications and bugs that are expected when managing so many devices, cables and people. We will refine this process locally before branching out in year 2 to local middle schools and LAMC.Â
Students will visit a different era in gaming history every week to become versed in culture-defining titles and show-off their gaming skills across the generations. While unc might say he was the GOAT at Halo or Mario Kart 64, we'll be able to put those skills to the test by inviting teachers and coaches to our events to see if they stack up against the modern Spartan gamers. Shoutcasters must be versed with a huge swath of game references to connect with audiences, so brushing up your gaming history is a chance to network beyond your generation.Â
Street Fighter 6 (2023)
Street Fighter 2 (1991)
Marvel Rivals (2024)
DOOM (1993)
Madden 27 (2026)
Tecmobowl (1987)
We wouldn't have Street Fighter 6 without the worldwide phenomona of Street Fighter 2, Rivals wouldn't exist without DOOM, and TECMOBOWL walked so Madden could run. Expect to compete in a range of modern and classic titles.
You will be required to participate in a team for PlayVS in both the Fall and Spring. Get graded on your real work.
You will be required to participate in a team for PlayVS in both the Fall and Spring. Get graded on your real work.
As a Coach who wants Sylmar CHS to be on the map for Esports, I am thirsty for a PlayVS Esports championship. I would allocate 100% of the grade to performance and participation to this endeavor if I was able, but alas, LAUSD explicitly forbades it. Instead, I am allocating 30% of the final CTE Esports 1A grade based on your ability to scrimmage and produce Esports content in one of the Fall of Spring Esports titles below. Students will work together in groups of 3, rotating the role of Player/Caster/Manager, each responsible for specific aspects of content creation. Those students that perform best in the weekly scrimmage will rep us in the PlayVS matches.
GRADE BREAKDOWN
GRADE BREAKDOWN
Additional details in the syllabus linked here.
Weekly PlayVS Scrimmage Content Production (30%)
Weekly Retro Local Tournament Content Production (30%)
Google Sites Final Portfolio Project (20%)
Weekly Industry Journal Responses via Quickwrite (20%)
Tentative Schedule
Tentative Schedule
Each week will focus on a specific themed tournament, with an outline as such:
Mapping Monday: Students vote on a title/create a team in the list of available comps. Specific titles listed (Smash, Rivals, etc) will be required, while "comp" titles are listed in the weekly info.
Tech Tuesday: I will introduc historical challenges and solutions related to the titles, with reading/journaling of industry articles often required.Â
Website Wednesday: We will document your growth with software/hardware competency in a digital portfolio. Specific activities listed.
Tourney Thursday: The entire class enlists in a tournament with at least 1 round of winners/losers bracket. Specific rules and titles selected on Mapping Monday. Groups must be responsible for managing set-up, individual play participation, shoutcasting, and recording.Â
Final Cut Friday: Students edit and post their Esports content generated via the Tourney Thursday/readings/extended play.
WEEK 1 - PlayVS Smash
WEEK 1 - PlayVS Smash
Aug 12-14
Intro week focusing on logistics and begin usage of WW Sites + Tournament Thursday.Â
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Website Wednesday
Intro
Tourney Thursday
Smash 5
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 2 - PlayVS Rivals
WEEK 2 - PlayVS Rivals
Aug 17-21
Class will team up for Rivals scrimm on Monday. PC parts and in-class devices discussed.
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
PC Components
Website Wednesday
OBS
Tourney Thursday
Marvel Rivals
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 3 - PlayVS Round-up
WEEK 3 - PlayVS Round-up
Aug 24-28
Class will fill out remaining PlayVS teams for scrimmage content. Youtube editor used for trimming videos for rapid content gen.
Monday Mapping
Tourney Tuesday
Street Fighter 6
Website Wednesday
Youtube
Tourney Thursday
Madden/MK/Rocket League
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 4 - GENERATION 1
WEEK 4 - GENERATION 1
Aug 31-Sep 4
Magnavox Odyssey, (1972-1976)
Pong and VR Ping-pong
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
First home console
Website Wednesday
VR
Tourney Thursday
Pong Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 5 - GENERATION 2
WEEK 5 - GENERATION 2
Sep 7-11
Atari 2600, Intellivision, ColecoVision (1977–1982)
Pacman, Space Invaders, Asteroids, Defender, Donkey Kong high scores can be attempted day of challenge. Highest composite ranking wins!
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Rise and Fall of Atari
Website Wednesday
Google Trends
Tourney Thursday
High Score Challenge Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 6 - GENERATION 3 (NES)
WEEK 6 - GENERATION 3 (NES)
Sep 14-18
NES/Famicom, Sega Master System (1983–1987)
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
ROB: AI in games
Website Wednesday
Stat Tracking Sheets
Tourney Thursday
Tecmo BowlÂ
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 7 - GENERATION 4 (Genesis)
WEEK 7 - GENERATION 4 (Genesis)
Sep 21-25
(1988–1993)
Sonic (1/2/3), SMB (1/2/3), SMW 1/2, DKC (1/2/3), Megaman (7/8/X/X2/X3), Aladdin, Mischief Makers
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Speedrunning
Website Wednesday
Emulators on PC
Tourney Thursday
2D Platformer Speedrun Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 8 - GENERATION 4 (SNES)
WEEK 8 - GENERATION 4 (SNES)
Sep 28-Oct 2
SF2 (CE, Turbo), Killer Instinct, MK (1/2/3/Ultimate 3), KoF ('94-'99), Samurai Shodown
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Street Fighter: The Phenomona
Website Wednesday
Emulators on Consoles
Tourney Thursday
2D Fighter Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 9 - GENERATION 5 (Saturn)
WEEK 9 - GENERATION 5 (Saturn)
Oct 5-9
Virua Fighter (1/2), Fighters Megamix, Tekken (1/2/3), Bushido Blade, Eirgheiz, KI Gold, Clayfighters 64.
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Rise and fall of Optical Media
Website Wednesday
Optical Media Backups (VCR/CD/DVD)
Tourney Thursday
3D Fighter Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 10 - GENERATION 5 (PSX)
WEEK 10 - GENERATION 5 (PSX)
Oct 12-16
Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot, Jumping Flash!, DK64, Banjo Kazooie (1/2), Goldeneye, THPS (1/2)
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
2D to 3D
Website Wednesday
3D Modeling/Printing
Tourney Thursday
3D Speedrunning Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 11 - GENERATION 5 (N64)
WEEK 11 - GENERATION 5 (N64)
Oct 19-23
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Hardware Limitations and expansion packs
Website Wednesday
Modding Games
Tourney Thursday
Smash 64
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 12 - GENERATION 6 (Dreamcast)
WEEK 12 - GENERATION 6 (Dreamcast)
Oct 26-30
Powerstone (1/2), MVC (1/2), SFA (2/3), Tekken (4/5), Soul Calibur (1/2)
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
The Fall of Sega
Website Wednesday
Google Form recruitment
Tourney Thursday
6G Fighters Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK13 - GENERATION 6 (PS2)
WEEK13 - GENERATION 6 (PS2)
Nov 2-6
Guitar Hero (1/2/3) Rockband (1/2), DDR (1/2/3), Elite Beat Agents (1/2)
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Music Game History
Website Wednesday
Accessories and Controller Drivers
Tourney Thursday
Music Game Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 14 - GENERATION 6 (Gamecube)
WEEK 14 - GENERATION 6 (Gamecube)
Nov 9-13
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Wavedashing
Website Wednesday
Labor Day
Tourney Thursday
Smash Melee
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 15 - GENERATION 6 (Xbox)
WEEK 15 - GENERATION 6 (Xbox)
Nov 16-20
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Modchips
Website Wednesday
Soldering
Tourney Thursday
Halo 1 LAN
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 16 - GENERATION 7 (Wii)
WEEK 16 - GENERATION 7 (Wii)
Nov 30-Dec 4
Wii Sports (1/2), Punch-Out!!!, Mario Kart Wii, Mario Party (8/9)
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Motion Control
Website Wednesday
Motion Control Drivers
Tourney Thursday
Motion Control Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 17 - GENERATION 7 (PS3/X360)
WEEK 17 - GENERATION 7 (PS3/X360)
Dec 7-11
Halo (2/3), Gears (1/2/3), CoD (2/3/MW1/MW2)
Portal 1/2 speedrun for solo makeup
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
History of Online Comms
Website Wednesday
Sound/Comms in OBS
Tourney Thursday
Gen 7 Squad Comp
Final Cut Friday
WEEK 18 - Finals
WEEK 18 - Finals
Dec 14-18
Spartans select final tournament theme, title and rules
Monday Mapping
Tech Talk Tuesday
Semester Wrap Up: Guest Speaker
Website Wednesday
Final Peer Grading
Tourney Thursday
Spartan Choice
Final Cut Friday
Google Sites
Report abuse