The Neighborhood Curriculum game jam, part of Marta Brkovic Dodig’s research on participatory planning and co-design, engaged students, teachers, and experts in an interdisciplinary effort to link community resources with school learning. The series of game jams was held at three primary schools across Europe: Jovan Jovanović Zmaj in Pančevo, Serbia; Clarity in Lisbon, Portugal; and Tehtaanmäki in Kouvola, Finland.
During these game jams, participants identified important neighborhood sites, local experts, and meaningful activities that could enhance school learning. Working together, they mapped these resources and proposed ways to integrate them into the curriculum. Through collaborative brainstorming and design sessions, each location developed unique strategies for connecting school-based learning with real-world contexts, fostering a dynamic and culturally relevant curriculum model.
Each event uniquely benefited from a multidisciplinary team. In Pančevo, a PhD architecture student, psychology professor and psychology students from the Faculty of Media and Communications in Belgrade joined the workshop, bringing insights into child engagement and educationalpsychology. In Lisbon, the internationally awarded architecture education duo from Aschool contributed their expertise in creating experiences that foster creative learning. Finally, in Kouvola, two professors and a student specializing in game design from XAMK University enriched the game jam by optimizing gameplay mechanics and enhancing playability for young participants.
The collaborative effort emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the Neighborhood Curriculum development, combining insights from psychology, architecture, and game design. This blend of expertise informed everything from optimizing children’s engagement and learning outcomes to enhancing game mechanics and play experience. Together, these diverse perspectives helped create a game that is not only educationally enriching but also deeply engaging and enjoyable for children.
