Our Events
Are you interested in learning more about how to use educational games in the classroom? Would you like to become a member of our vibrant university community for game-based education.
Please check out our events and register directly, if you are interested.
Upcoming Events
Power of Game-based Learning
September 9, 2025 | 12:00 – 13:30 | Online
Scientific evidence shows that game-based education is a potent strategy to improve the motivation of students and to achieve better learning outcomes.
In this short webinar offered by Dr Johannes Katsarov from Leuphana’s Game-Didaktik Lab, we will try out two serious games and discuss how they could be used in the classroom. Additionally, you will learn what scientific evidence has to say about the power of game-based learning and how it can be harnessed for higher education.
No prior knowledge is needed. Register here.
Gamification-Strategien und -Techniken für verbessertes Lernen: Design und Umsetzung
September 17, 2025 | 14:00 – 17:00 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
Zahlreiche Studien haben gezeigt, dass die Gamifizierung der Lehre, d.h. die Einbeziehung von Spielmechanismen wie Quests, Wettbewerbe oder das Sammeln von Erfahrungspunkten, sich positiv auf die Motivation und die Lernergebnisse der Studierenden auswirken kann (z. B. Sailer & Homner, 2020; Zhan et al., 2022).
In diesem Kurs lernen Sie, wie Sie Gamification-Elemente strategisch einsetzen können, abgestimmt auf die Präferenzen Ihrer Lernenden und Ihre Lernziele. Sie lernen verschiedene Formen von Gamification kennen, sowohl digital als auch analog, und erarbeiten ein Gamification-Konzept für einen eigenen Kurs.
Für die Teilnahme sind keine Vorkenntnisse erforderlich — lediglich Interesse an interaktiven Lehrmethoden und Gruppenmoderation. Hier registrieren.
Facilitation meistern: Moderation und Anpassung
interaktiver Lernformate
September 23-24, 2025 | 9:00 – 13:30 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
In diesem zweitägigen Workshop lernen Sie, wie Sie interaktive Lernformate erfolgreich moderieren und an Ihre spezifischen Lernziele anpassen können. Als Teil des Game-Didaktik Projekts bietet dieser Workshop allen Universitätsangehörigen die Möglichkeit, ihre Facilitation-Kompetenzen für aktivierende Lehrmethoden zu entwickeln.
Sie werden praktische Fertigkeiten in zwei Kernbereichen erwerben: der professionellen Moderation verschiedener Lernformate (Gruppenarbeiten, Simulationen, Spiele, Diskussionsrunden) und der zielgerichteten Anpassung bestehender Methoden für Ihre individuellen Lernziele. Durch das praktische Erleben verschiedener interaktiver Formate, die Entwicklung eines persönlichen Moderationsleitfadens und kreative Anpassungsübungen entwickeln Sie die nötige Sicherheit für den souveränen Einsatz in Ihrer Lehrpraxis. Nach dem Workshop werden Sie in der Lage sein, interaktive Lernszenarien selbstbewusst zu moderieren, bestehende Methoden systematisch zu modifizieren und ein facilitatives Mindset in Ihrer Lehre zu etablieren.
Für die Teilnahme sind keine Vorkenntnisse erforderlich — lediglich Interesse an interaktiven Lehrmethoden und Gruppenmoderation. Hier registrieren.
Unlocking Learning Potential: Game-Based Learning and Gamification in Education
September 24, 2025 | 16:30-18:00 | Online
Join us this September for an exciting webinar on Game-Based Learning and Gamification! Presented by an experienced educator with over 20 years in K-12 and post-secondary education, this session will delve into the transformative power of games in the classroom and give you a chance to play some yourself!
Discover how play time can enhance learning outcomes and engage students like never before. Our presenter will share real-life examples from his extensive teaching career, showcasing practical applications and favorite games that can be seamlessly integrated into various educational settings.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore innovative strategies that can revolutionize your teaching approach and captivate your students. Register here.
Dr. Dave Carlgren is a life-long game player and advocate for the use of games to teach and learn. His educational background is in curriculum design and Integral Theory while his career has been in K-12 and post-secondary math and science (physics) teaching. He is an active game player and truly believes in the power of games and play for a multitude of positive purposes, including teaching skills consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Inner Development Goals.
Debriefing meistern: Strukturierte Reflexion in der Hochschullehre
October 1, 2025 | 09:00-13:30 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
In diesem eintägigen Workshop lernen Sie, wie Sie strukturierte Reflexionsphasen nach verschiedenen Lernaktivitäten erfolgreich gestalten können. Als Teil des Game-Didaktik Projekts bietet dieser Workshop allen Universitätsangehörigen die Möglichkeit, ihre Kompetenzen in der gezielten Nachbereitung von Lernerfahrungen zu erweitern.
Sie werden praktische Fertigkeiten in drei Kernbereichen entwickeln: klassische Debriefing-Methoden für Präsenzveranstaltungen, innovative Reflexionstechniken für digitale Lernformate und die gezielte Anwendung verschiedener Debriefing-Formate je nach Lernsituation. Durch das praktische Erleben verschiedener Lernaktivitäten (Gruppenarbeiten, Simulationen, Spiele), das Erproben unterschiedlicher Debriefing-Techniken an Lernstationen erwerben Sie die nötige Sicherheit für den Transfer in Ihre eigene Lehrpraxis. Nach dem Workshop werden Sie in der Lage sein, strukturierte Reflexionsphasen nach Lernaktivitäten zu moderieren, sowohl analoge als auch digitale Debriefing-Methoden zielgerichtet einzusetzen und typische Herausforderungen beim Debriefing souverän zu meistern.
Für die Teilnahme sind keine Vorkenntnisse erforderlich — lediglich Interesse an strukturierten Reflexionsmethoden in der Lehre. Teilnehmende bringen idealerweise ein eigenes Laptop/Tablet mit.
Hier registrieren.
20-21
February
2026
Games for Higher Education: Spiele für die Hochschuldidaktik
SAGSAGA Networking Conference
February 20-21, 2026 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
The Game-Didaktik Project finds its crowning conclusion! Together with the Swiss-Austria-German Simulation & Gaming Association (SAGSAGA), we are organizing a two-day network conference on serious games in higher education didactics.
Program highlights:
- Market of Possibilities: Discover over 50 learning games that we have acquired for Leuphana and experience a wide range of innovative game approaches
- Interactive Workshops: Try out learning games and learn new methods for university application
- Lighthouse Project Presentations: Our successful cooperation partners present their experiences and results
- Expert Sessions: International specialists in serious game design share their knowledge
- The conference offers a unique platform for exchange, networking, and practical testing of game-based teaching methods. The Leuphana community is especially cordially invited to actively participate with their own workshop offerings, demos, or posters.
Expression of interest and workshop proposals: johannes.katsarov@leuphana.de
Organized by the Game-Didactics Team in cooperation with SAGSAGA.
#GamesForHigherEducation #SeriousGames #SAGSAGA #GameDidactics #HigherEducationDidactics
Past Events
17
July
2025
ISAGA Conference 2025:
Leuphana Workshop on "superPARK" Serious Game
July 17, 2025 | 11:00-12:30 | Stuttgart
Britta Weksnis and Saskia Sterzl present the browser-based serious game “superPARK” at the 56th ISAGA Conference. The game simulates the implementation of responsible process automation in a futuristic amusement park and conveys practical RPA/IPA competencies.
90-minute workshop on automation, ethics, and AI governance – based on real frameworks and EU AI Act requirements.
The ISAGA Conference brings together researchers and practitioners from management, social and environmental sciences, education, and technology – perfect for exchanging ideas about innovative gaming methods!
Presenters: Britta Werksnis & Saskia Sterzl, Leuphana University Lüneburg
#ISAGA2025 #SeriousGames #RPA #ResponsibleAutomation #LeuphanaUniversity
10
July
2025
Game-Didactics Summer Festival:
Halftime Celebration with Highlights from the First Project Year
July 10, 2025 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
Halftime achieved! After a successful first year of the Game-Didactics Project, we celebrate with all Leuphana friends and cordially invite you to our summer festival.
What awaits you:
- Our highlight learning games from the first project year to try out and play along
- Relaxed atmosphere for networking and experience exchange
- Shared buffet – everyone brings a small treat
- Insights into the successes and learnings of the first twelve months
- Whether you are already part of our community or becoming curious about game-based teaching – everyone is welcome! Get to know the diverse possibilities of serious games in higher education in a casual setting and exchange ideas with like-minded people.
Registration: Brief email to johannes.katsarov@leuphana.de
We look forward to a relaxed afternoon with games, conversations, and good food!
Organized by the Game-Didactics Team
#GameDidacticsSummerFestival #Halftime #SeriousGames #LeuphanaCommunity #Networking
25-26
June
2025
Serious Games in Higher Education:
Moderation, Adaptation and Debriefing
June 25-26, 2025 | 09:00-13:00 each day | Central Campus
Become a professional in game-based teaching! In this two-part workshop of the Game-Didactics Project, you will acquire practical skills for the successful use of serious games in higher education.
Your learning content:
- Facilitation: Secure moderation of learning games in various contexts
- Adaptation: Targeted modification of existing games for your learning objectives
- Debriefing: Effective reflection strategies to deepen the learning experience
- Methodology: Practical testing of various serious games, group work to develop your own facilitation concepts, and hands-on adaptation of game mechanics.
After the workshop, you will moderate game-based learning scenarios independently and develop effective reflection strategies for your teaching. No prior knowledge required – only interest in innovative teaching!
Instructor: Saskia Sterzl (IMO) | Open to all educators and external participants
#SeriousGames #Facilitation #GameBasedLearning #HigherEducationDidactics #LeuphanaTeachingService
14
May
2025
Workshop: "Pitch Your Green Idea" -
Conveying Sustainability Playfully
May 14, 2025 | 14:00-17:00 | Building 6
Discover the innovative learning game “Pitch Your Green Idea” by systainchange GbR (Antonia Bartning and Caroline Frumert)! In this three-hour workshop, we try out the game together and develop concrete application scenarios for your teaching. You experience the game from the student perspective, analyze learning mechanisms, discuss adaptation strategies, and exchange ideas with other educators. Particularly suitable for sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Registration until April 31: johannes.katsarov@leuphana.de
Schedule conflict? Contact us anyway – additional dates possible!
Organized by the Game-Didactics Team: Johannes Katsarov and Saskia Sterzl
#PitchYourGreenIdea #Sustainability #SeriousGames #LeuphanaWorkshop
WS
2024/2025
SS 2025
Consulting Students Lighthouse:
Training Advisory Competence Digitally!
Winter Semester 2024/2025 – Summer Semester 2025 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
What characterizes successful student advising by educators? The Leuphana Teaching Service is developing an innovative digital learning game for this! Under the leadership of Anke Brehl, Judith Gurr, and Sigrun Lehnert, a training environment is being created where educators can specifically improve their advisory competencies.
The special feature: An expert advisory board with Claudia Nounla, Thies Reinecke, and Nils Helge Schebb accompanies the game development and contributes valuable practical perspectives!
To maximize the impact of this lighthouse project, we have extended the development phase until summer semester 2025. After completion, the game will be available open access on our website.
Interested in a preview? Contact johannes.katsarov@leuphana.de for more information.
#AdvisoryCompetence #DigitalLearning #LeuphanaTeachingService #SeriousGames #QualityTeaching
08
May
2025
Game-Didactics at LEARNTEC:
Presentation on Serious Games in Higher Education
May 8, 2025 | 15:00-15:20 | Focus Stage (Hall 1)
Saskia Sterzl and Britta Weksnis presented the potential of game-based learning in the university context at LEARNTEC. From scientific support of gamified courses to practical case studies from the DI-SCENARIO project – our presentation showed how serious games are successfully used in higher education.
Presenters: Saskia Sterzl & Britta Weksnis, Leuphana University Lüneburg
#LEARNTEC2025 #GameBasedLearning #SeriousGames #LeuphanaUniversity
SS
2025
New Lighthouse: "Ways of Knowing"
Transformed with Game Elements!
Summer Semester 2025 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
We are excited to introduce our newest lighthouse project! Together with Dr. Steffi Hobuß, we are gamifying the course “Ways of Knowing: Approaches of the Studium Individuale METHODS II” and revolutionizing methodological learning!
Our approach: We integrate customized serious games and playful elements into various sessions that support students in examining a research subject through different academic perspectives.
Students learn playfully how to:
- Formulate suitable research questions
- Identify and understand investigation methods
- Recognize the limits and possibilities of various methods
The result: A profound understanding of methodological approaches through active, game-based experimentation!
#WaysOfKnowing #StudiumIndividuale #GameBasedLearning #MethodologicalCompetence #LeuphanaInnovation
February
2025
Lighthouse Project Completed:
Scientific Methods Conveyed Playfully!
February 2025 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
Our lighthouse project in the course “Scientific methods — different pathways to knowledge” has been successfully implemented! Together with Prof. Dr. Henrik von Wehrden and Charlotte Gohr, we have integrated game-based learning methods into a large event with 1,400 first-semester students.
In selected 8 sessions of the event series, students could experience scientific methods playfully – theory became practically tangible, barriers were reduced, and active engagement with research methods was promoted.
The result: Complex scientific concepts become graspable and the relevance of methodological work becomes immediately clear!
#ScientificMethods #GameBasedLearning #LeuphanaTeaching #LighthouseProject
15
January
2025
Game-Didactics Inspires at Teaching Day!
January 15, 2025 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
Our game corner in the Gallery Walk on the theme “Examinations — Cultures in Transition” was a complete success! Numerous visitors tried out our serious games and discussed innovative examination formats.
The lively interest confirms: Game-based learning is an important building block for the future of higher education – especially in times of AI and digital transformation!
#TeachingDay #SeriousGames #GameBasedLearning #LeuphanaInnovation
WS
2024
2025
Agile Methods Lighthouse: Better Team Development with LEGO!
Winter Semester 2024/2025 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
Computer scientists must be able to develop innovative solutions quickly and as a team! In our lighthouse project with Debayan Banerjee, Martin Kohler, and Prof. Dr. Ricardo Usbeck, we rely on game-based methods to make agile project management tangible.
In two AI project courses, students learn Scrum and other agile methods through the use of serious games like Lego4Scrum – practical, hands-on, and directly applicable!
The result: Methodological competence that goes far beyond theoretical knowledge and can be directly transferred to practice.
#AgileMethods #Lego4Scrum #AI #TeamDevelopment #LeuphanaTeaching
WS
2024
2025
Serious Games for Ethics & Sustainability: Card Game Innovation!
Winter Semester 2024/2025 | Leuphana University Lüneburg
How can game mechanics promote moral sensitivity? In our lighthouse project with Dr. Johannes Katsarov and Prof. Dr. Torben Schmidt, students develop a unique card game for reflecting on sustainability topics!
In the seminar “Serious Games for Ethics and Sustainability,” students experience how different game mechanisms can promote or hinder ethical thinking. These insights flow directly into their own game development projects.
The finished card game is available for self-printing on our website.
Contact for inquiries: johannes.katsarov@leuphana.de
#SeriousGames #Sustainability #Ethics #GameBasedLearning #LeuphanaInnovation
07
November
2024
Workshop: Escape Games as a Didactic Tool
November 7, 2024 | 15:00-18:00 | C40.601
Discover the world of Educational Escape Games with Jonna Kaßner! In this practical workshop, you develop your own puzzle concepts and learn how this method promotes motivation and critical thinking.
Please bring: Smartphone, laptop Registration until November 4, 2024: saskia.sterzl@leuphana.de
#EscapeGames #GameBasedLearning #LeuphanaWorkshop
We Respect Your Privacy
This site collects anonymous usage data to support research and improve our games.
By continuing, you agree to our Data Protection Policy.