ICT and pedagogical innovation
Game Library Meets Digital Education Tools
6 days
Alberto & Dina
This Erasmus+ course invites educators to explore innovative teaching approaches by integrating educational board games with digital tools. Across six days of experiential learning, participants will engage in hands-on sessions, collaborative design challenges, and simulated classroom activities that demonstrate how playful, hybrid methodologies can enhance motivation, engagement, and learning outcomes.
The course creates a space for educators to connect analog and digital strategies, co-create interdisciplinary lesson plans, and reflect on the pedagogical potential of game-based learning in a 21st-century context.
Learning Outcomes
Participants to the course will learn to:
Understand the pedagogical value of educational board games in formal education
Confidently use digital tools to enhance interactivity and learner engagement
Design hybrid lesson plans that combine analog and digital game-based strategies
Evaluate the impact of playful learning on student motivation and academic outcomes
Promote collaboration and creativity through interdisciplinary, game-informed approaches
Programme
Game Library Meets Digital Education Tools
Day 1 – Welcome & Team Building through Play
Welcome Session and Course Overview
Let’s Play to Get to Know Each Other
Participants break into small groups and start playing selected analog games that promote communication, collaboration, or creativity.Debrief and Reflection Circle
Day 2 – Stepping into Digital Tools
Quick Intro (10–15 min)
Short visual presentation on how digital tools can support game-based learning.Hands-On Group Session
Participants explore a selection of digital tools together as a single group. Each tool is briefly introduced, followed by a short, hands-on task. The group explores various activity formats while getting practical experience with each platform.Play & Reflect
Participants test each other’s creations and reflect on usability, engagement, and potential applications in their own classrooms.
Day 3 – Playing and Learning with Board Games
Quick Intro (10–15 min)
Brief recap on the educational benefits of analog games and how to use them effectively in the classroom.Hands-On Group Session
Participants play selected educational board games together, experimenting with different game mechanics and learning outcomes.Play & Reflect
Group discussion on how each game supports specific skills and competencies, and ideas for classroom application.
Day 4 – Deep Dive into Digital Tools
Quick Intro (10–15 min)
Short presentation on advanced features and possibilities of digital tools for learning.Hands-On Group Session
Participants explore one or two digital platforms more deeply, creating richer content or more complex interactive activities.Play & Reflect
Testing and peer feedback on digital creations, focusing on engagement, usability, and potential classroom use.
Day 5 – Cultural Heritage & Closing Reflections in Porto
Guided walking tour through Porto’s historical center (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Storytelling activity: “What does heritage mean to me?” – connecting place, memory, and sustainability
Final sharing circle:personal and professional takeaways from the week and group presentations
Certificate ceremony and celebratory closing toast with local flavors
Day 6 – Culture on the River
Six bridge cruises – Rabelo boat
Portuguese culture: Port wine and portuguese cuisine tasting
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.