ICT and pedagogical innovation
STEAM GAMES – Science, Maths & Engineering through Board Game Design
6 days
Science and mathematics are among the subjects where student disengagement is most acute — and board game design is one of the most powerful tools available for changing that. When students design a game that models a scientific system or a mathematical concept, they must understand it deeply. STEAM GAMES gives teachers the skills to make this happen.
Participants explore board games with strong STEM content, learn game design principles, and build complete STEM game projects they can use immediately in their classrooms. The course develops both content knowledge and pedagogical skill, and gives teachers the confidence to lead STEM game projects across primary and secondary levels.
Learning Outcomes
Participants to the course will learn to:
Use STEM-focused board games to develop scientific inquiry, mathematical reasoning and engineering thinking
Design board games that model scientific systems, mathematical structures and engineering challenges
Apply game design processes (mechanics, feedback, iteration) as a STEM learning methodology
Lead student game design projects that develop deep STEM understanding alongside 21st century skills
Connect game-based learning to STEM curriculum objectives at primary and secondary level
Build a school STEM game-based learning programme linking classroom and maker-space approaches
Programme
STEAM GAMES – Science, Maths & Engineering through Board Game Design
Monday | STEM Through Play — Games That Teach Science and Maths
Welcome and overview. Play session: participants experience STEM board games as students.
The landscape of STEM board games: chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, engineering.
What makes a STEM game genuinely educational? Design principles and evaluation criteria.
Workshop: deep analysis of three high-quality STEM board games.
Tuesday | Game Design as STEM Thinking
Game design mechanics that mirror scientific and mathematical structures: probability, systems, variables.
Workshop: participants prototype a game that models a specific STEM concept.
Mathematical games: number sense, geometry, probability and statistical reasoning through play.
Coding connections: computational thinking in game design.
Wednesday | Student Game Design — A Project-Based Approach
Leading a student STEM game design project: stages, scaffolding and assessment.
Workshop: participants develop a complete STEM game design brief for their classroom.
Playtesting methodology: how to structure student iteration and peer feedback.
Cross-curricular STEAM connections: art, design and communication in STEM games.
Thursday | Showcase, Assessment and School Strategy
Participants finalise and playtest their STEM game prototypes.
Assessment of STEM game projects: rubrics, learning evidence and portfolio approaches.
Building a school STEM games programme: from classroom to whole-school initiative.
Action planning: your STEM game-based learning classroom action plan.
Friday | Field Experience & Final Workshop
Cultural visit to selected Braga or Porto landmark relevant to the week's theme.
Final hands-on workshop: design and present your classroom action plan.
Group showcase: share the games, tools or activities created during the week.
Saturday | Certificate Ceremony & Closing
Presentation of each participant's final project or classroom toolkit.
Peer feedback and recognition of contributions.
Certificate presentation ceremony.
Group photograph and informal closing celebration.
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.