Mastering Game-Based Learning Strategies

Course overview

This immersive 5-day course is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and practical strategies to incorporate game-based learning (GBL) and gamification into their teaching methodologies. Participants will explore how learning through games can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of education, fostering the development of essential 21st-century skills such as multitasking, critical thinking, risk-taking, and more.

The course will delve into the educational practices of GBL and gamification across Europe, providing participants with insights into successful implementations and best practices. Participants will learn how to use games and game strategies to enhance learning, promote critical and creative thinking, and engage students in interactive and immersive learning experiences.

Emphasis will be placed on hands-on activities and collaborative exercises, allowing participants to explore various resources for GBL lessons, including open educational resources, mobile devices, coding through video games, QR codes, online simulation games, and outdoor games for active learning. Participants will also gain insights into digital storytelling techniques, enabling them to create captivating narratives that enhance student engagement.

The course will provide participants with the opportunity to develop ready-to-use materials and practical ideas for incorporating current digital applications into their teaching practices, fostering educational development in the field of GBL. Participants will learn strategies to motivate, guide, and assess learners, reducing achievement gaps and promoting the development of relevant, high-level, and innovative skills.

To enhance the learning experience and provide a cultural context, the course will incorporate a guided cultural visit, allowing participants to explore local heritage and sustainable practices. This visit will further enrich their understanding of inclusive and environmentally conscious approaches to education.

Tentative schedule:

Day 1: Introduction to game-based learning and gamification

Icebreakers and networking activities
Introduction to the course and participants
Overview of the course methodology and expectations
Exploring game-based learning and gamification in education
Sharing personal experiences and challenges in engaging learners
Group discussions: The role of games in fostering 21st-century skills

Day 2: Enhancing learning through games and game strategies

Using games and game strategies to enhance learning
Promoting critical and creative thinking through games
Hands-on activities: Designing game-based learning experiences

Day 3: Exploring resources and cultural exploration

Finding resources for GBL lessons: Open educational resources, mobile devices, and coding through video games
Using QR codes and online simulation games for interactive learning
Cultural visit (e.g. museum, heritage site) guided in English to explore local heritage and sustainability practices
Post-visit activities: Incorporating cultural elements and sustainable practices into game-based learning

Day 4: Active learning and digital storytelling

Outdoor games for active learning
Digital storytelling techniques for engaging narratives
Hands-on activities: Creating digital stories and interactive learning experiences

Day 5: Implementing game-based learning strategies

Developing ready-to-use materials and practical ideas for GBL implementation
Motivating, guiding, and assessing learners through game-based strategies
Presentations: Participants share their game-based learning projects and strategies
Course evaluation and feedback
Certification ceremony

The classes typically run from 9 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon, with the afternoon and evening reserved for self-reflection and individual study. However, the course schedule may be adjusted to accommodate the preferences of the participants and the availability of instructors or external learning locations. Participants will receive the finalized schedule well in advance, allowing ample time for preparation and planning.

Learning outcomes:

The participants will be able to:

Analyze the educational practices of game-based learning (GBL) and gamification across Europe, identifying successful implementations and best practices.
Develop game-based learning experiences that promote critical and creative thinking, multitasking, risk-taking, and other 21st-century skills.
Utilize various resources, including open educational resources, mobile devices, coding through video games, QR codes, online simulation games, and outdoor games, to create engaging and interactive learning experiences.
Implement digital storytelling techniques to create captivating narratives that enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Design ready-to-use materials and practical ideas for incorporating current digital applications into their teaching practices, fostering educational development in the field of GBL.
Develop strategies to motivate, guide, and assess learners through game-based strategies, reducing achievement gaps and promoting the development of relevant, high-level, and innovative skills.
Collaborate with fellow educators to share best practices, strategies, and resources for implementing game-based learning and gamification in educational settings.
Incorporate cultural elements and sustainable practices observed during the guided cultural visit into their game-based learning strategies, promoting inclusive and environmentally conscious practices.
Evaluate their own teaching practices and develop an action plan for continuous improvement in implementing game-based learning and gamification strategies.
Promote open educational resources (OER) and flexible learning environments, fostering collaboration between educational sectors and promoting interdisciplinary approaches.

Course fee:

400 euro per participant (covered entirely by the Erasmus grant)

Course fee includes:

At least 25 hours of course content;
Course materials;
Certificate of participation;
Europass, on request;
Learning / Mobility Agreement;
Visits to local institutions, if available;
Personalized support;
Free high-speed WIFI internet at the POU Čakovec premises;
Refreshments;
Administration costs;
Dissemination materials.

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