Pedagogical innovation
Echoes of Play: Connecting Technology, Games & Cultural Memory
6 days
Alberto & Dina
This Erasmus+ course invites educators to explore how play, creativity, and cultural awareness can transform learning. Through a unique blend of digital tools, modern board games, and cultural heritage experiences, participants will gain hands-on strategies to enrich their teaching practice and engage learners in new ways.
Set in the vibrant region of Northern Portugal, the course moves from interactive workshops to field explorations, fostering both pedagogical innovation and a deeper connection to place and community. Participants will discover how playful methods and local cultural contexts can inspire active, interdisciplinary learning in and beyond the classroom.
Learning Outcomes
Participants to the course will learn to:
Use educational board games to promote collaboration, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving
Integrate digital tools to enhance classroom interactivity and learner agency
Connect tangible and intangible cultural heritage to curricular goals using playful strategies
Design meaningful hybrid activities that reflect local identity and global challenges
Foster motivation and engagement through experiential and culturally responsive teaching
Programme
Echoes of Play: Connecting Technology, Games & Cultural Memory
Day 1 – Welcome & Team Building through Play
Welcome session and course overview
Let’s play to connect – analog games for communication, collaboration & creativity
Reflection circle to share first impressions and build group identity
Day 2 – Stepping into Digital Tools
Short intro on the role of digital tools in playful learning
Hands-on session with practical experimentation across multiple platforms
Create & Reflect – participants test their digital activities and discuss relevance in their teaching contexts
Day 3 – Learning through Board Games
Why analog still matters – discussion on the power of tactile and social learning
Game lab – educators engage with modern board games, exploring educational mechanics and applications
Debrief – linking gameplay with curricular goals and classroom integration ideas
Day 4 – Digital Tools in Depth
Advanced digital strategies – exploring new possibilities for digital creation
Design time – participants develop richer activities using selected tools
Peer feedback session – sharing, testing and refining digital content
Day 5 – Culture, Heritage & Final Reflections (in Porto)
Guided cultural walk through Porto’s historical center (UNESCO World Heritage)
Storytelling session: “What does heritage mean to me?” – connecting memory, identity, and place
Sharing circle & final presentations
Certificate ceremony and toast with local flavors
Day 6 – Culture on the River
Six Bridge River Cruise aboard a traditional rabelo boat
Port wine & Portuguese cuisine tasting – experiencing the region through its flavors
Materials, digital tools & other learning resources
Course participants will receive training and engage in exercises designed to develop their skills as trainers. The provision of additional materials or resources will be determined based on the course structure and the instructor’s approach to meeting the learning objectives
Course package content:
Services and activities included in the course package are those described above. Please note that accommodation, transport, and meals are not provided.
Cancellation & changes:
Common sense prevails when it comes to cancellations, which are analyzed on a case-by-case basis.