Gamifying Teacher Education: International Internship in Kaunas Advances the EduGame Project
From May 5 to 9, 2025, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) in Kaunas, Lithuania hosted the third international internship of the EduGame – Gamification of Teacher Education project. This Erasmus+ initiative brought together educational experts from Lithuania, Spain, Italy, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Tunisia to collaboratively explore the integration of gamification and game-based learning (GBL) in Initial Teacher Education (ITE).
Day 1 – May 5: Deep Dive into Game-Based Learning and Educational Escape Rooms
The internship began at the VMU Education Academy with an introduction to the training objectives. Participants engaged in two hands-on workshops focused on Educational Escape Rooms, led by experts from Tunisia. These sessions explored how immersive escape room scenarios can enhance motivation, collaboration, and critical thinking in higher education settings. The day also included a presentation from Italy showcasing examples of gamification in higher education learning. The evening featured an official opening event complemented by a special International Food Fair, providing a welcoming atmosphere for networking and cultural exchange.
Day 2 – May 6: Deepening Game-Based Learning and Assessment
The second day continued at the VMU Education Academy, starting with a presentation on Game-Based Learning in History: Practical Assignments for Future Educators, highlighting engaging, discipline-specific gamified tasks. A workshop followed with facilitators from Albania, offering further practical applications. In the afternoon, a representative from Tunisia presented on Stealth Assessment in Serious Games, showcasing innovative methods for unobtrusive evaluation during gameplay. The day concluded with a session on applying gamification in literary analysis, demonstrating its potential to deepen engagement in literature studies.
Day 3 – May 7: Creating Practical Teaching Innovations with AI and Gamification
Day three moved to the Faculty of Informatics in Akademija (Kaunas), with a session led by a Spanish representative on Prompt Engineering for AI-Powered Educational Games and Interactive Learning. This included a thorough introduction to Large Language Models and multimodal AI, emphasizing practical techniques such as role prompting and few-shot prompting. Participants then collaborated in domain-based groups (language, history, STEM) to build AI-enhanced educational prototypes. The afternoon included a workshop on modern pedagogical approaches for game-based learning led by experts from Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other partner universities. The day ended with planning sessions for the upcoming Summer School.
Day 4 – May 8: Modeling Gamified Learning Materials
Returning to the Faculty of Informatics, the day began with a session on Gamified Environments and Virtual Characters, exploring how virtual elements can enhance learning engagement. A practical continuation workshop allowed participants to apply these concepts directly. The afternoon featured a workshop on IT Technologies in STEAM Activities, presented by representatives from the VMU STEAM Centre and the Multimedia laboratory, focusing on integrating technology into science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education. The day concluded with a Q&A session.
Day 5 – May 9: Reflecting and Looking Ahead
The final day began with a workshop on Computers as Mindtools, discussing how digital tools can support critical thinking and creativity. This was followed by an interactive session titled Case Tunisia featuring speakers from Tunisia, sharing their experiences with gamification and digital learning. A wrap-up panel then discussed future directions for the EduGame project, followed by a certification ceremony recognizing participant contributions. The internship concluded with outdoor learning activities, emphasizing experiential education and networking.
This internship successfully advanced international collaboration in gamification and innovative educational technologies, providing participants with practical skills and resources to enhance teacher education.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants for their invaluable contributions, professional expertise, and commitment throughout the internship. Their active engagement and collaborative efforts were fundamental to the success of this event and the advancement of innovative gamification methodologies in teacher education.
Funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ program (Project No. 101128757).
For more information, visit: www.edugame-project.eu
