Photos by Ralph Freso
Grand Canyon University’s Adam Maynes brought his local government class into an unexpected space this semester – the GCU Esports Arena.
For the first time, the gaming center is being used for academics, demonstrating how interactive learning can deepen students’ understanding of complex governmental systems.
“It will show exactly what I wanted to show when I got here in 2021, which is that esports gaming is more than just playing video games,” said Jay DeShong, director of the esports lab.
The facility, in the Technology Building, serves 2,000 students, including competitive teams, and hosts about 60 events a year.
Maynes, who teaches government and history in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, introduced the city-building simulation game “Cities: Skylines” into his municipal government and administration management curriculum this semester. The game allows students to design and manage a virtual city, navigating challenges such as budgeting, zoning and public policy.
By incorporating hands-on learning, Maynes hopes to increase engagement and practical application.
“The moment I first played this game on my own, I knew it would be perfect for this class,” Maynes said. “It wasn’t about taking a shortcut in teaching – it was about finding the best way for students to engage with the material and apply real-world skills in a simulated environment.”
Maynes believes that traditional lecture-based learning, while informative, is not always the most effective approach.
It wasn't about taking a shortcut in teaching -- it was about finding the best way for students to engage with the material and apply real-world skills in a simulated environment.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences instructor Adam Maynes
“Studies show that sitting and listening to someone talk can be stimulating, but often our minds wander,” he said. “One of my professors in college talked about how student attention spans last around seven minutes. So, I structure my classes to provide digestible chunks of information, then give students opportunities to apply what they’ve learned. Hands-on learning is just more effective.”
To implement this hands-on learning, Maynes sought approval from the college’s assistant dean and dean, emphasizing how “Cities: Skylines” directly connects to multiple topics covered in his course. Funding initially posed a challenge, as the game was costly. But the release of a sequel led to a price drop, making the original game more affordable.
Each semester, students will play the game five times, progressively implementing new concepts learned in class. They will manipulate tax rates, develop infrastructure and collaborate with external government entities. Success is measured not through a point system but by assessing city stability, population growth and financial management.
The Esports Arena is known for hosting competitive gaming events, but DeShong sees this academic partnership as an opportunity to showcase the lab’s broader potential.
“The esports center is for anyone using any type of technology, and academic participation will bring awareness to the technology tools available to students,” DeShong said.
Junior Adessa Tamo, who's majoring in government with an emphasis in public administration, said, “Maynes’ class brought my attention to the esports lab."
DeShong envisions a future where game design students will utilize the lab’s equipment for their projects.
“We offer high-tech, high-powered tools that are essential for making things like video games,” he said. “Basically, anybody that uses any type of technology can benefit.”
Students in Maynes’ class have found the experience to be eye-opening.
“It’s beneficial in teaching us how complex cities are and how much really goes into building everything,” said Daniella Viner, a government major with an emphasis in legal studies. “You learn what increases population in a certain area or what decreases population – important things like water placement, electricity and everything that makes a city function.”
Viner also appreciates how the game offers real-time feedback on decisions.
“I think it’s a great element to teaching because rather than just having information lectured to you, you’re able to see it in an almost real-life scenario and create it yourself. The game tells you errors in your city and suggests what you could do better,” she said.
Tamo agrees, noting that interactive learning increases student participation.
“I think interactive learning is one way to have more student participation in classes,” she said.
Students like Josee Compton, a government major, also sees the potential for more hands-on learning in other classes.
“It would give other students a leg up in experiencing what they are learning,” Compton said.
Maynes sees this as just the beginning of incorporating gaming technology into higher education.
“With the development of AI and increasing access to technology, there’s no reason why software like this can’t be used more in the classroom,” he said. “Students are already interacting with technology constantly – why not leverage it for learning?”
As the semester progresses, Maynes will assess the success of the program based on student feedback and learning outcomes. If the results are positive, this unique classroom experience may become a staple in GCU’s curriculum – an innovative step forward in bridging education with the digital world.
GCU is no stranger to innovation in education, and Maynes’ experiment with “Cities: Skylines” could pave the way for more interactive approaches in other courses. While this is the first time the Esports Arena has been used for an academic purpose, it likely won’t be the last.
“Education is evolving,” DeShong said. “If we can merge the engagement of gaming with the depth of academic study, we can create learning experiences that are both immersive and impactful. I hope more professors take advantage of this kind of opportunity.”
GCU News student writer Leandra Lepp can be reached at leandra.lepp@gcu.edu.
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