Join us on 29 October 2026, in Bologna or online, for a morning of discussion, project insights and the presentation of the Pixel Media video game, Influencer Solitaire.

How can video games help us understand the media we encounter every day? What can educators learn from game designers—and how can research inform the development of meaningful learning experiences?

On 29 October 2026, Pixel Media will bring together researchers, education professionals and game creators at the University of Bologna to explore these questions. Taking place in the Aula Magna of the Department of Education Sciences “G. M. Bertin”, with online participation also available, the event will connect perspectives on game design, creative learning and digital citizenship. See the official event page.

The morning will open with an international roundtable, followed by presentations of the project’s educational resources and activities. It will conclude with a presentation of Influencer Solitaire, the Pixel Media video game.

Meet the roundtable speakers

The opening discussion, “Video games, education and media literacy – perspectives from professionals across the field”, will feature four speakers whose work spans educational research, independent game development, creative computing and interactive storytelling.

Jorge Oceja Castanedo works at the intersection of game studies and education. His background combines teacher education, educational psychology and educational technology, including a master’s degree completed at California State University with Fulbright support. His doctoral research at the University of Cantabria explored the design of game experiences to promote civic competence. His work brings a perspective on how the experiences we design around games can connect learning with participation and citizenship. Research profile.

Claudia Molinari is co-founder, Creative Director and Producer at We Are Muesli, an independent Milan-based studio specialising in narrative games about culture, history and art. A visual designer and digital artist, she combines creative practice with teaching and involvement in the international games community. The studio’s work includes Venti Mesi, a documentary game about the Italian Resistance, and “The Great Palermo”, an interactive narrative recognised in the ADI Compasso d’Oro selection. Her experience connects visual storytelling and game production with questions of cultural heritage and public engagement. She also contributes to the Council of Europe’s Video Game Culture working group within its Digital Citizenship Education project. Speaker biography.

Carmelo Presicce is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab. His work centres on creative learning and the design and facilitation of experiences in which people learn through making, experimentation and collaboration. He contributes to “Learning Creative Learning and WeScratch”, initiatives that support educators and learners in exploring creative computing together. This experience adds a valuable dimension to the discussion: how people can become creators of digital experiences, and how educators can build supportive environments for playful learning. MIT profile and projects, WeScratch.

Mata Haggis-Burridge is Professor of Creative and Entertainment Games at Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. An academic and digital creative with more than twenty years of experience in game design and writing, they also work as a consultant in game and narrative design. Their doctoral research examined the influence of technology on narrative and identity, while their wider professional activity encompasses storytelling, immersion, diversity and inclusion. Their work offers a connection between the craft of making games and the cultural meanings, perspectives and experiences embedded within them. Speaker biography.

Together, these backgrounds provide a starting point for examining how games are created, interpreted and used in education—and what those processes can contribute to media literacy.

 

Programme

29 October 2026 — All times are local to Bologna (CET).

9.00–10.30 — Roundtable: Video games, education and media literacy – perspectives from professionals across the field, with Jorge Oceja Castanedo (University of Cantabria), Claudia Molinari (We Are Muesli), Carmelo Presicce (MIT) and Mata Haggis-Burridge (Breda University of Applied Sciences).

 10.30-11.00 Break
 

The 11:00 project session will introduce the resources, pedagogical approaches and activities developed by the partnership:

• YuzuPulse: an introduction to the project. 
• Logopsycom: an introduction to the website and manual. 
• University of Bologna: the pedagogical framework and media literacy charter.
• Rinova: Pixelpedia and Mediaquiz.
• OPENS: the manual and training activities.
• FECE: the international training and focus groups.
• Q&A: an opportunity to discuss the project with the partners.

 

At 12:30, attention will turn to Influencer Solitaire, connecting the morning’s discussion of education and media literacy with the project’s game development work.

The programme is available on the official event page.

 

Continuing the conversation

The Pixel Media event forms the preconference programme of “Giocare con il mondo” (“Playing with the World”), which continues on the afternoon of 29 October and throughout 30 October. The wider conference explores playful practices for knowledge, critical thinking, scientific citizenship and democracy, extending the discussion to different educational settings and forms of play. Explore the conference.

Join us in Bologna or online

Whether you work in education, research or game design, or are interested in the relationship between games and media literacy, we invite you to join the conversation.

Date: 29 October 2026
Venue: Aula Magna, Department of Education Sciences “G. M. Bertin”, University of Bologna, Via Filippo Re 6, Bologna, Italy
Format: In person and online

Visit the event page for programme updates and participation information.

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