Educational games are most effective when their mechanics, decisions and challenges are aligned with clear learning objectives. This hands-on course guides participants through the process of designing their own educational board game or serious game, from the initial idea to a playable prototype. Participants learn how to connect learning goals, game mechanics, player experience and educational impact through practical design, playtesting and iteration.
Who is it for?
Teachers, educational psychologists, trainers, youth workers, project coordinators and other professionals interested in moving from using existing games to designing educational board games and serious games adapted to their learners, organisations or projects.
This course is especially suitable for professionals who want to move from using existing games to creating their own educational game prototypes adapted to the needs of their learners, organisations or projects.
What will you learn?
- Define the educational purpose, target group and expected learning outcomes of a game.
- Translate learning objectives into game mechanics, player decisions, challenges and interactions.
- Apply core principles of board game and serious game design.
- Create and improve low-cost prototypes through playtesting, observation and feedback.
- Design and present an educational game prototype with clear pedagogical coherence, playability and feasibility.
How will you learn?
This is a hands-on, design-based course in which participants learn by analysing, creating, testing and improving games. Short theoretical inputs are combined with practical design challenges, group work, prototyping and playtesting. Participants create components, test ideas with other players, collect feedback and use iteration to improve both the gameplay experience and the educational value of their proposals.
Each session combines brief theoretical inputs with practical design challenges, group work, guided reflection and hands-on prototyping. Participants explore how educational objectives can be transformed into game mechanics, player decisions, challenges, rules and meaningful interactions.
The training includes the analysis of existing board games and serious games, the design of educational goals, the creation of cards, boards, tokens, roles, missions and scenarios, and the development of low-cost prototypes using simple and accessible materials.
A strong emphasis is placed on playtesting and iteration. Participants test their prototypes, observe how players interact with them, identify design problems, balance difficulty, improve clarity and refine both the game experience and the educational value of their proposals.
At the end of the course, participants work individually or in small groups to design and present an educational board game or serious game prototype. These proposals are assessed by the trainers, who provide feedback on their pedagogical coherence, playability, feasibility and potential educational impact.
As part of the cultural and social dimension of the training, participants will also enjoy a guided visit around Valladolid and, on one of the afternoons, a tapas experience to discover the city’s local gastronomy in an informal and friendly atmosphere.
Course contents
- Educational board games and serious games: key concepts, purposes and differences from gamification.
- Designing from learning objectives: target groups, learning needs, outcomes and educational goals.
- Core game design principles: rules, components, mechanics, challenge, feedback, uncertainty, cooperation, competition and narrative.
- From objectives to gameplay: transforming learning goals into player actions, decisions and meaningful interactions.
- Prototyping and playtesting: creating low-cost prototypes, observing gameplay, collecting feedback and balancing the experience.
- Final game prototype: presentation and assessment based on pedagogical coherence, playability, feasibility and educational potential.
Practical information
Duration: 20 hours
Participants: 8–20 participants
Language: English or Spanish
Dates & venue:
Dates and schedule are agreed with the organising institution. The course can be delivered in Valladolid, elsewhere in Spain, or internationally at your organisation.
Cost: Course fee tailored to duration, number of participants, location and specific training requirements.
Trainers
Azael J. Herrero is a university professor and researcher specialising in board game-based learning, gamification, serious games and educational innovation. He has more than 15 years of experience using modern board games in educational contexts and extensive experience designing training and educational innovation initiatives. As founder of Ludus Magnus / EIMBG, he contributes expertise in game design, learning mechanics, facilitation and educational game development.
Miriam Herrero-Martín is an Educational Psychologist and Psychopedagogue with professional experience in learning, wellbeing and educational guidance. She is currently completing a PhD at the University of Valladolid on the use of board games in Primary Education and has participated in numerous educational innovation and Erasmus-related projects. In this course, she contributes a psychological and pedagogical perspective to learner needs, educational objectives, player experience and the evaluation of game-based interventions.
Registration & contact
Interested in this course or need a tailored version for your organisation?
Contact us at info@ludusmagnus.es
