LBTU-001

GAME-DESIGN CHALLENGE: Solving Regional Issues Through the Power of Playing

English

Description

"Game-Design Challenge: Solving Regional Issues Through the Power of Playing” is an intensive, interactive workshop designed for higher education educators. The course explores how modern game-based learning, interactive narrative design, and generative AI can transform various regional and socio-economic challenges into engaging, high-impact classroom simulations.
Participants will not only discover how to design educative games across disciplines, but also learn how to empower students as active co-creators of learning tools. Working in teams, participants will solve regional challenge and develop the tools covered in class to build, test, and pitch a ready-to-use educational game prototype.
Objectives:

Promote interactive and challenge-based learning
Foster student empowerment and co-creation
Integrate storytelling and local context into higher education
Demystify and leverage generative AI in game design
Facilitate international and interdisciplinary collaboration

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Apply challenge-based learning (CBL) to complex challenges
Understand game-design value and potential in educational process
Design and prototype educational games
Facilitate student co-creation
Integrate generative AI in instructional design
Evaluate and iterate game-based learning formats

Prerequisites

English language proficiency: Ability to participate actively in teamwork and discussions).
Technical skills: None required (no prior game design or programming experience needed).
Background: Academic and teaching staff with an interest in innovative teaching methods and game-based learning.

Teaching Methods

Challenge-Based Learning (CBL)
Serves as the core instructional backbone of the workshop. Participants address a tangible regional challenge and develop practical solutions through game design principles.

Interactive Lectures & Workshops
Concise theoretical aspects to game mechanics, approaches, types, narrative structures, and AI tools, paired with hands-on collaborative design sprints.

Field Trip
An inspirational site visit designed to connect academic concepts with real- world practice.

Case Studies
Analysis of real-world examples where game-based learning and design have been successfully integrated into diverse higher education curricula.

Storytelling & Narrative Design
Hands-on practice in constructing branching storylines, nuanced character dilemmas, and local context to boost emotional engagement and critical thinking.

Speed Dating
A structured rotation format for participants to share prior game-based learning experiences, exchange peer feedback, and pressure-test each other’s early concepts.

Pitch Presentations to Stakeholders
Teams pitch and demonstrate their educational game prototypes to regional stakeholders and peers, articulating both pedagogical value and practical solutions to the challenge.

Key Competencies

Digital literacy Creativity and co-creation Initiative, flexibility, and adaptability Intercultural and cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration Stakeholder- and public engagement, along with communication skills Critical thinking and problem-solving Global awareness and social responsibility Leadership and management skills Strategic planning and business management Anticipation of risks and risk management AI competence Teaching innovation

Workload

20+ hours

Type of Assessment

Pitch Presentations to Stakeholders

Type of Certification

Certificate of attendance

Study Pace

Full-Time

Maximum Participants

Contact Teacher

Lāsma Līcīte-Ķurbe, email: lasma.licite@lbtu.lv

Dates

Course Period

Apr 26, 2027 - Apr 29, 2027

Offered By

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies

Course Type

Short-Term Mobility

Focus Area

Personal Skills and Development

Delivery Mode

On Site

Offered To

University Teaching Staff

Important Notice

Note: Credits are not automatically transferred. Please check with your home institution or degree program to see if this course can be included in your study plan to ensure that the credits are recognized.

More Information