Call for Papers

PYRAMID. Game-Based Learning and Digital Innovation in Education

University of Foggia, Department of Humanities, February 11, 2026


On the occasion of the conclusion of the PRIN PNRR 2022 project PYRAMID - Promoting cooperative game-based learning in young students: unRaveling Active Methodologies for Inclusion and Disabilities, coordinated by Prof. Luigi Traetta (University of Foggia) with the participation of the Research Unit of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, coordinated by Prof. Alberto Fornasari, the final conference of the project will be held on February 11, 2026, at the Department of Humanities of the University of Foggia.

The event aims to offer an interdisciplinary forum for discussion on the themes of Game-Based Learning, Cooperative Learning, and innovative teaching methodologies for the inclusion of students with Special Educational Needs and disabilities, with particular attention to primary school and the development of scientific thinking and STEM skills.

The PYRAMID project piloted a didactic model of cooperative learning mediated by games and technology, including the use of hybrid digital/analog environments, to promote scientific creativity, participation, and the relational well-being of students. The conference aims to serve as a moment for disseminating the project's results and, simultaneously, as an opportunity to open a national and international debate on the educational, pedagogical, and technological challenges related to the use of games in inclusive contexts.

Researchers, PhD students, teachers, school principals, educators, educational service professionals, instructional designers, and educational technology experts are invited to participate.

Thematic areas
The Conference welcomes contributions of high scientific value that can enrich the interdisciplinary debate and promote new research perspectives. Original contributions falling within the following thematic areas are particularly encouraged:

1. Game-based learning, serious games, and video games in educational contexts:

- Theoretical models and pedagogical frameworks of Game-Based Learning in school contexts;

- Serious games, commercial video games for educational use, educational robotics, and technologies for inclusion.

2. Cooperative Learning, Peer Education, and group dynamics:

- Cooperative Learning and peer learning in the school context;

- The influence of Cooperative Learning on relational well-being, classroom climate, and sense of belonging; on the participation and agency of students with Special Educational Needs; and on learning outcomes in scientific and STEM fields;

- Models and tools for the observation and assessment of cooperative processes.

3. Scientific thinking, creativity, and STEM in the inclusive school.

4. Educational Technologies, Instructional Design, and Learning Experience Design:

- Design of technologically mediated learning environments for students with Special Educational Needs (tablets, game consoles, online platforms, apps, extended reality, etc.);

- Instructional design and Learning Experience Design for inclusive playful-cooperative activities;

- Models for integrating technologies into daily teaching and Individualized Education Plans;

- Accessibility, usability, and inclusivity of digital solutions adopted in pilot tests.



Submission Guidelines

Interested parties are invited to submit an abstract in Italian or English, with a maximum length of 3,000 characters (including spaces), accompanied by:

- Title of the contribution;

- Name, affiliation, and contact details of the author(s);

- Brief biographical note (max 500 characters);

- 3-5 keywords;

- Indication of the relevant thematic section;

- Essential bibliography.



Abstracts must be sent by January 15, 2026, via the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/dw2V23SiYqAAR7YA7



Evaluation and publication

Abstracts will be subjected to a double-blind peer review by the Scientific Committee.

Authors of accepted contributions will be invited to present their work during the conference, in parallel sessions, according to a program that will be announced after the selection process.

The publication of the proceedings in an ISBN collected volume by the publishing house “Il Capoverso” is scheduled for March 2026, subject to further double-blind peer review. The editorial guidelines for submitting full texts will be communicated later to the authors of the selected contributions.

Important dates
- Abstract submission: January 15, 2026

- Notification of acceptance: January 31, 2026

- Full paper submission: February 28, 2026



Conference Venue

Aula Magna “G. Cipriani”

University of Foggia

Department of Humanities

Via Arpi, 176, 71121 Foggia (FG)



Information and contacts

For further information, please contact the following email addresses: learningsciencesinstitute@unifg.it, nadia.dileo@unifg.it.



Scientific committee
- Prof. Luigi Traetta, University of Foggia

- Prof. Alberto Fornasari, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”

- Prof.ssa Giusi Antonia Toto, University of Foggia

- Prof.ssa Ilenia Amati, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”

- Prof.ssa Viviana Vinci, University of Foggia

- Prof.ssa Guendalina Peconio, University of Foggia

- Prof.ssa Martina Rossi, University of Foggia



Organizing secretariat
- Dr. Nadia Di Leo, PhD Student in Educational, Development, and Learning Sciences at the University of Foggia.