About the Project

The training promotes the use of game-based learning methods in youth work and explores educational board games through training youth workers to assess learning needs of young people, adapt game-based learning methods and develop table-top games.

The training aims to promote the use of game-based learning methods in youth work and explore application of educational board games through training youth workers to assess learning needs of young people, adapt game-based learning methods and develop table-top games in correspondence with them.

The training course will be intense and will include 4 practical sessions of 90 minutes per day with designated 60 minutes of reflection. The training is designed to produce physical results (designed board game concepts), so there will be very little free time during the week with optional times in the evenings to work in groups. The training program will cover introduction to game-based learning, board game development principles, practical sessions on creating own game concepts, testing the concepts, documenting games and reflecting on the application of such methodology in youth work. As a result we foresee to create several board game concepts and test them with young people.

The project sets next objectives:

• To discuss youth trends in participants countries and extract current learning needs from participant’s working experience with youth;
• To introduce game-based learning for youth workers/ youth leaders to incorporate in own work;
• To explore board games and their possible adaptation to serve as educational tools;
• To introduce board games as a tool for involvement of young people and explore successful examples of the use of board games in youth work;
• To equip participants with methods for idea development and learning design that is transferrable to socially relevant topics;

Participant Profile

The training course is designed for: youth workers, youth leaders, educators, trainers, teachers, NGO volunteers and members. We are looking for people involved in youth work or in the education field on a weekly basis. Participants do not need any previous experience with board games and game-based learning. We expect participants to have motivation to learn about game-based learning and be willing to create board games for young people. Participants need to be official residents of the country they are coming from, be over 18 years of age and have at least an intermediate level of English. Participants are expected to participate fully in the program and commit to the dissemination activities.

Preparation for the Project

Close to the training course the team will send you a home task and a preparation package to get up to date with the non-formal methodology and main aspects of the program that you will take part in. During the week you will have a chance to share educational game concepts or products that you use or been part of. You can bring these games with you.

About Shokkin Group

Shokkin Group is a youth organization based in Tallinn, Estonia and is working to raise the level of active involvement of young people in their communities through educational games and non-formal learning events.