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WePlay prepares its pilot tests with European training and a transnational meeting in Italy

The European WePlay project is entering a new phase of development with two important events in September, both focused on preparing the platform’s upcoming pilot tests, which will begin in October.

On 24 September, an online training session will be held for the schools taking part in this first testing phase. Rural and urban schools from four European countries will participate, providing an opportunity to test WePlay across a range of educational settings.

During the training, participants will explore how the platform works and learn about its main tools. The aim is to ensure that teachers and schools can begin using WePlay with their pupils and are ready to take an active role in the pilot tests.

A European experience across different educational settings

The involvement of both rural and urban schools will make it possible to assess how WePlay works in different school contexts and gather valuable information to continue improving the platform.

The pilot tests will provide first-hand insight into the experience of teachers and students, help identify possible improvements and assess how gamification can be integrated into different activities and educational settings.

Partners meet in Italy

In addition, on 29 September, the WePlay partners will meet in person in Italy to coordinate the final preparations before pilot testing begins.

During this transnational meeting, the partners will review the current state of the project, the organisation of the pilots, support materials for schools and the procedures that will be used to collect feedback from teachers and students.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity to share progress made by the different partners and coordinate the project’s next stage.

Pilot testing begins in October

From October onwards, WePlay will begin to be tested in European schools. This phase will be essential for evaluating the platform in real learning situations and continuing to refine its features before the final version.

Through these activities, WePlay continues to advance towards its goal of developing a flexible, accessible educational gamification tool that can adapt to different European school contexts, while also promoting collaboration and the exchange of experiences between schools in different countries.

A new stage for WePlay is beginning!

WePlay is getting ready to enter the classroom. Read our 2nd newsletter

WePlay moves from research into the classroom

WePlay is entering a key new stage of the project. After several months of research, development and joint work among the European partners, it is time to bring the platform closer to real use in schools.

The findings of the WePlay study “Applying Gamification in Classroom Settings” are helping to guide the development of the platform and its gamified educational experiences. The aim is to turn research into practical approaches that support meaningful learning, active student participation, collaboration and inclusion.

From research to real learning experiences

WePlay is a European educational gamification project connecting rural and urban schools and seeking to transform the classroom into a more participatory, collaborative and motivating learning environment.

In recent months, the partners have worked to analyse how gamification can be used effectively in education, translating research findings and pedagogical objectives into the design of the platform and its games.

At the same time, teachers are being prepared to use WePlay’s tools easily and adapt them to the needs of their pupils.

The next major step will come in October 2026, when pilot testing begins in real classrooms.

Online teacher training on 24 September

To prepare for the pilot phase, an online training session for participating teachers will take place on 24 September 2026.

During the session, teachers will have the opportunity to:

• Explore and become familiar with the WePlay platform.
• Discover how the gamified learning activities work.
• Prepare to introduce WePlay into their lessons.
• Share experiences and connect with other European teachers and schools.

The training will help teachers become familiar with the platform’s main tools before testing begins with their pupils in October.

Learning together to build a shared future

WePlay also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 – Quality Education and SDG 13 – Climate Action, while promoting European values and cooperation among schools in different countries.

The pilot phase will be a fundamental part of the project. Schools, teachers and students will not only have the opportunity to use a new educational tool; their experience and feedback will also help improve a European platform developed together with the education community.

You can discover the latest resources, news and project updates at weplayproject.eu, share WePlay with your school and education networks, and follow #WePlayEU as we prepare to bring the platform into classrooms across Europe.

Read our second newsletter and discover what comes next →

The WePlay journey begins: our first newsletter is now available

The WePlay Project has published its first newsletter, marking a new step in communicating the project and its activities across several European countries.

This first edition introduces WePlay as a European educational gamification project connecting rural and urban schools and transforming classrooms into collaborative, gamified learning environments. The project will run for 24 months, began in Spain in October 2025 and will focus on the joint creation of a digital platform, collaborative gamification activities and shared educational resources.

The newsletter also presents the project’s main target groups. These include rural schools, especially primary schools, as well as urban schools, youth organisations, teachers, researchers and students involved in both formal and non-formal education.

One of WePlay’s main goals is to promote inclusion, social cohesion and a shared sense of European belonging, using gamification as a tool to encourage new forms of learning and collaboration between education communities in different countries.

WePlay’s main outputs

The key outputs and resources to be developed during the project include:

• A European educational gamification platform.
• A robust and inclusive digital infrastructure supporting collaboration between schools in different countries.
• Pilot learning experiences linked to the 2030 Agenda and Social and Emotional Learning.
• A research base on the use of gamification in the classroom.
• Free, open and adaptable educational resources for schools and teachers.

A European collaboration

The first newsletter also introduces the WePlay project partners: Estela Cántabra and the University of Deusto in Spain; Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania; Roscommon Leader Partnership in Ireland; and Istituto Comprensivo di Bobbio in Italy.

WePlay also works with associated organisations and pilot schools, including INDIRE – Research and Innovation for the Italian School and the Piccole Scuole movement, rural schools in Spain, Italy, Ireland and Lithuania, and the Irish youth organisation Foróige.

An invitation to take part

Through this first newsletter, WePlay invites schools, teachers, youth organisations and local communities to follow the project’s progress and take part in upcoming activities.

Over the coming months, workshops and gamification sessions will be organised, new educational resources will be published and different opportunities will open up to discover and test the tools developed within the project.

You can also help spread the word about WePlay by sharing its activities and using the hashtag #WePlayEU.

The publication of this first newsletter marks another milestone for WePlay and opens a channel for sharing news, resources and opportunities to participate throughout the coming months.

Read our first newsletter here →