Did you know that play is considered a crucial component of cognitive development from birth through adulthood? Think about your favorite games: isn’t it true that you never get tired playing them? Being it hide and seek, puzzles, construction games, board games, there are invisible threads linking our memories, experiences and feelings in connection to playing games and they are all linked to the intrinsic motivation and engagement they trigger in our mind!  The new edition of the course “Открийте силата на обучението чрез игри и геймификацията в образованието​” took place in Тенерифе от 27/10/24 to 02/11/24.  The participants came from all across Europe, with Assya Atanassova, Rositsa Kutsarova, Edita Georgieva, Elena Boyanova-Shirkova, Mariyana Nikolova, Mila Ivanova, Silvena Ivanova и Yordanka Vicheva from Petar Stapov Regional Library  in Bulgaria. Their training week was constructed like a game, following a sequence of levels from the very beginning. 
As if we were starting to play a video game, we asked participants to create their own characters to join the game. Avatars, symbolic characters and new superheroes were thus used as a basis to get to know each other, including strengths and passions. It became even more noticeable how rich and diverse our group was, perfectly reflecting the reality of every class at school.  

In the first level of the course, we explored the pedagogical value of play and how games can enhance learning. Participants reflected on the challenges teachers face as “digital immigrants” navigating an educational landscape dominated by digital natives. Through a challenge comparing gamification and game-based learning, we clarified that gamification integrates game elements into non-game contexts, while game-based learning focuses on the educational experience derived from playing the game itself.

In the second level, participants defined a common gamification framework, identifying eight key internal and external motivators that drive human engagement. One practical activity involved a role-play exercise where participants embodied different types of video game players, gaining hands-on insight into what motivates players in a game-driven environment.

The third level shifted focus to game-based tools and apps. Together, we reviewed traditional games and transformed them into more engaging educational tools. After navigating various challenges, participants had the opportunity to create their own learning tools, both offline and online.

In the penultimate level, participants experienced an exhilarating scavenger hunt in the city center, followed by a challenging digital escape room where they solved riddles and puzzles to break free. This engaging experience prompted participants to brainstorm ways to gamify their classrooms, considering their students’ unique needs and characteristics. 

Having successfully completed all levels of the course, participants discovered innovative methods to repurpose traditional games, enriching the learning process. They also became familiar with modern online tools that can significantly enhance student engagement, bringing renewed energy and excitement to their classrooms.

Discover more about this dynamic course here.