THE CITY IS THE BOARD — Lisbon Outdoor Gaming Experience
6 days
What if a city could become a giant board game?
This innovative Erasmus+ course transforms Lisbon into a dynamic learning environment where participants explore educational board games, game mechanics, strategic thinking and gamification while discovering one of Europe's most vibrant capitals. Each day takes place in a different area of Lisbon, turning streets, squares, parks and cultural landmarks into living classrooms.
Led by Alberto, an experienced board game facilitator and educational trainer, participants will discover how modern board games can develop critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills. Through hands-on gameplay, outdoor challenges and reflection sessions, teachers will learn how to transfer the principles of successful board games into engaging classroom practices.
The course combines pedagogical innovation, outdoor education, experiential learning and gamification, offering participants practical tools to increase student engagement and foster key competences in diverse educational settings.
Learning Outcomes
Participants to the course will learn to:
Apply game-based learning methodologies in educational contexts.
Facilitate board games to promote collaboration, communication and strategic thinking.
Identify game mechanics that support learning objectives.
Adapt commercial board games for classroom use.
Design simple educational activities inspired by board game mechanics.
Use urban environments as learning spaces.
Promote student engagement through experiential and playful learning.
Develop critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making activities.
Integrate gamification principles into everyday teaching practices.
Foster teamwork, inclusion and active participation through games.
Create action plans for implementing game-based learning in their schools.
Programme
THE CITY IS THE BOARD — Lisbon Outdoor Gaming Experience
Day 1 – Welcome to the Game
Location: Praça do Comércio & Baixa Pombalina
Theme: Why Board Games Matter in Education
Introduction to modern board games and educational innovation.
Ice-breaker games and team formation.
Understanding game design fundamentals.
Core mechanics every teacher should know.
Cooperative versus competitive gameplay.
Outdoor challenge: Lisbon Discovery Quest.
Reflection on learning through play.
Board Game Focus:
Ticket to Ride
Dixit
Codenames
Day 2 – Strategy, Planning and Decision-Making
Location: Parque Eduardo VII
Theme: Thinking Ahead
Strategic thinking in education.
Risk assessment and decision-making.
Resource management as a learning tool.
Developing executive functions through gameplay.
Outdoor strategic missions in teams.
Translating strategy games into classroom activities.
Board Game Focus:
Catan
Carcassonne
Splendor
Day 3 – Cooperation, Communication and Teamwork
Location: Belém
Theme: Winning Together
Cooperative learning methodologies.
Building trust and communication.
Collaborative problem-solving.
Managing diverse groups through game-based activities.
Outdoor team challenges inspired by cooperative games.
Debriefing techniques and reflective learning.
Board Game Focus:
Pandemic
Forbidden Island
The Crew
Day 4 – Creativity, Storytelling and Imagination
Location: Alfama
Theme: The Power of Narrative
Storytelling as a pedagogical tool.
Developing creativity through games.
Visual thinking and imagination.
Creating learning experiences through narratives.
Urban storytelling missions in Lisbon’s historic neighbourhood.
Designing educational storytelling activities.
Board Game Focus:
Dixit
Once Upon a Time
Mysterium
Day 5 – Problem-Solving and Innovation
Location: Parque das Nações
Theme: Learning Through Challenges
Challenge-based learning.
Problem-solving frameworks.
Innovation and design thinking through games.
Escape-room mechanics and educational puzzles.
Outdoor innovation challenge.
Adapting challenge-based games to different age groups.
Board Game Focus:
Unlock!
Exit: The Game
Concept
Day 6 – Designing Learning Experiences Through Games
Location: Jardim da Estrela
Theme: From Player to Learning Designer
Identifying learning outcomesin games.
Adapting games to curricular objectives.
Creating educational activities inspired by board games.
Group project: Design your own learning experience.
Presentation and peer feedback.
Personal action plans for implementation.
Course evaluation and certification ceremony.
Board Game Focus:
Educational adaptation workshop using all games explored during the week.
Methodology
Learning by Playing
Outdoor Learning
Experiential Learning
Cooperative Learning
Gamification
Peer Learning
Reflection and Debriefing
Challenge-Based Learning
This course offers a unique opportunity to discover how the world's most successful board games can become powerful educational tools while experiencing Lisbon as a giant learning playground. It is ideal for teachers, trainers, school leaders and education professionals seeking innovative and engaging methodologies for the 21st-century classroom.
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.