From April 15 to 19, 2024, the EduGame Erasmus+ project hosted its first internship at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Spain. This intensive week-long event brought together educators, researchers, and professionals from across Europe and North Africa, all working towards the shared goal of integrating game-based learning, serious games, and gamification into higher education. The internship provided a rich learning environment, offering both theoretical insights and hands-on experiences to participants.
Day 1: Introduction to Game-Based Learning and Serious Games
The first day began with a warm welcome from the host institution, UPV, setting the stage for a week of collaboration and discovery. Project coordinators Judita Kasperiuniene (VMU) and Natalija Mazeikiene (VMU) led an interactive session to introduce the internship’s objectives and facilitate the exchange of ideas between participants.
The focus of the day was on understanding the educational potential of serious games and gamification. Experts from Vytautas Magnus University (VDU) provided a comprehensive session on integrating these tools into higher education, while case studies from UPV demonstrated successful implementations of gamification in European institutions. The day concluded with discussions on best practices and the critical role of stakeholder engagement in educational reform.
Day 2: Exploring Artificial Intelligence in Education
On the second day, participants delved into the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and education. Speakers from the University of Salerno (UNISA) presented the pedagogical challenges and opportunities posed by game-based learning, particularly in understanding student behavior and engagement.
UPV’s AI experts followed with a session on AI fundamentals, offering educators a holistic view of how AI can revolutionize teaching. In the afternoon, participants explored AI-powered problem-solving tools and visited UPV’s research labs, where cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) were showcased.
Day 3: Generative AI for Curriculum Development
Day three marked a deep dive into Generative AI and its potential for transforming educational content creation. UPV experts demonstrated how AI models could generate anything from text to 3D environments, providing educators with powerful tools to enhance their curricula. An interactive session allowed participants to experiment with these AI tools, exploring their application in gamifying courses.
Discussions led by the University of Elbasan (UNIEL) centered on the development of gamified curricula, encouraging participants to think creatively about integrating AI into their teaching strategies.
Day 4: Tools for Game Production and Gamification
Thursday’s sessions focused on practical applications. UNISA led a workshop on using common apps and tools for gamification, offering educators user-friendly ways to integrate game mechanics into their classrooms. The afternoon featured an open workshop, where participants worked in teams to start developing strategies for their EduGame courses. The day also included a management team meeting to review project progress and future goals.
Day 5: Final Experiences and Looking Ahead
The final day wrapped up with a reflective roundtable discussion, where participants shared their insights from the week and discussed their plans for applying what they had learned. A workshop on no-code game development, led by UPV, provided participants with a step-by-step guide to creating educational games using web-based platforms.
In the closing session, participants presented initial drafts for gamifying their courses, laying the groundwork for continued development during the second internship. The week concluded with clear goals set for the next phase of the project and a renewed sense of excitement for the future of game-based learning.
The first EduGame internship was a resounding success, equipping participants with both the knowledge and practical skills to integrate cutting-edge technologies into their teaching. The next internship, set for later in 2024, will build on this foundation, further advancing the project’s mission to revolutionize education through games and AI.
