The Birth of Prosocial Esports: How N.E.X.T.™ is Redefining Academic Esports

Esports in education has long been praised for its ability to engage students in meaningful ways, fostering teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. However, one aspect of esports that has yet to be fully explored is its role in promoting a prosocial classroom environment. Inspired by Dr. Christi Bergin’s research on designing a prosocial classroom, and developed by Dr. Katrina Lewis, Founder & President of the Tennessee Academic Esports League (TAEL), the N.E.X.T.™ model (© 2025 Tennessee Academic Esports League) serves as a foundation for fostering positive social interactions, empathy, and cooperation among students through esports.

What is a Prosocial Classroom?

The concept of a prosocial classroom, as outlined by Dr. Christi Bergin, revolves around creating a learning environment where students actively support and help one another, demonstrate kindness, and develop strong interpersonal skills. According to Dr. Bergin’s work, a prosocial environment is essential for student success, not just academically, but also in terms of social-emotional wellbeing. A prosocial classroom nurtures empathy, responsibility, and ethical decision-making, ensuring that students grow into well-rounded individuals who contribute positively to their communities.

In a traditional setting, educators employ strategies such as cooperative learning, role modeling, and explicit instruction in social skills to create this environment. But how does this translate into esports, a space often associated with competition and high-stakes play?

N.E.X.T.™: The Future of Prosocial Esports

The Tennessee Academic Esports League has developed and pioneered the N.E.X.T.™ model to integrate prosocial principles into esports education. N.E.X.T.™ stands for:

Nurturing – Fostering empathy, emotional intelligence, and positive communication while promoting fairness and belonging.
Empowerment – Helping students develop leadership, confidence, and self-growth by ensuring every individual has a voice.
X-Factor – Encouraging unique talents, creativity, and problem-solving in teams while recognizing and celebrating different perspectives.
Teamwork – Building collaboration, respect, and accountability

How N.E.X.T.™ Aligns with Prosocial Learning

Dr. Christi Bergin’s research on prosocial classrooms identifies key behaviors that support student growth: fostering cooperative interactions, promoting positive peer relationships, and encouraging ethical decision-making. These same principles apply directly to esports when viewed through the N.E.X.T.™ lens:

Nurturing in esports focuses on creating a positive and supportive environment where students feel safe expressing themselves, developing emotional intelligence, and learning conflict resolution skills. This promotes kindness, respect, and unity within the gaming community.
Empowerment is central to esports, as it provides students with opportunities to lead, mentor, and take responsibility for their actions. When students feel empowered, they develop confidence and resilience, essential qualities for success both in esports and life.
X-Factor represents the uniqueness of every student. Esports allows students to explore their strengths, creativity, and problem-solving skills in a way that traditional academics might not always highlight. This range of skills enriches team dynamics and promotes adaptability.
Teamwork in esports aligns directly with the collaborative learning strategies of prosocial education. Players must communicate, strategize, and support each other to achieve success, reinforcing the importance of accountability, mutual respect, and cooperation in competitive gaming.

Bringing N.E.X.T.™ into K-12 Esports

The Tennessee Academic Esports League (TAEL) is committed to fostering an esports culture that aligns with the principles of a prosocial classroom through the N.E.X.T.™ model. Esports provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in structured teamwork while also developing essential social skills in a real-time, high-energy environment. By integrating N.E.X.T.™ strategies into esports programs, educators can ensure that students experience positive social interactions that extend beyond the game.

Some key ways to incorporate N.E.X.T.™ behaviors in K-12 esports include:

Nurturing a Positive Culture – Encouraging students to support and uplift one another through positive reinforcement and respectful communication.
Empowering Students to Lead – Providing mentorship programs and leadership opportunities that help students develop confidence and advocacy skills.
Highlighting the X-Factor – Celebrating unique talents, encouraging creativity and problem-solving within the gaming environment.
Teaching Effective Teamwork – Helping students understand collaboration, responsibility, and strategic cooperation as essential skills for gaming and life

Through structured programs, the TAEL ensures that esports teams don’t just develop competitive skills but also learn to navigate social interactions in ways that benefit both their immediate team and the broader community.

Collegiate Esports and the N.E.X.T.™ Environment

Prosocial behavior doesn’t stop at the K-12 level—it extends into collegiate esports as well. As esports programs continue to grow in universities, there is an increasing need to prioritize the social and emotional well-being of student-athletes. College-level esports teams often face the pressures of rigorous competition, academic responsibilities, and personal development. By fostering a N.E.X.T.™ environment, universities can ensure their esports athletes develop into well-rounded individuals who thrive both in and out of competition.

Some approaches for cultivating a N.E.X.T.™ collegiate esports environment include:

Mental Health Support – Providing access to mental health resources and stress management tools.
Team Culture and Engagement – Building a welcoming environment where all students feel supported and have opportunities to contribute.
Leadership Development – Encouraging players to take on leadership roles within their teams and community.
Community Engagement – Organizing service projects or mentorship programs that connect collegiate players with younger students.

When collegiate esports programs prioritize N.E.X.T.™ values, they not only enhance player performance but also prepare students for future careers, whether in gaming, technology, or other fields.

The Future of Prosocial Esports with N.E.X.T.™

The integration of N.E.X.T.™ principles into esports is an evolving concept, but one that has the potential to transform the way we approach gaming in education. The TAEL is committed to leading this charge by fostering a culture where students not only learn to win but also learn to uplift and support one another. As more schools and universities adopt esports programs, embracing the N.E.X.T.™ model will ensure that gaming remains a powerful tool for positive social development.

By combining the research-backed principles of prosocial education with the immersive and engaging nature of esports, we can create environments where students thrive both as competitors and as compassionate individuals. The N.E.X.T.™ esports classroom isn’t just about gaming—it’s about building a future where students are empowered to be leaders, collaborators, and community builders both in the digital world and beyond.

For more on how the TAEL is championing this approach, visit www.tnacademicesports.com.