From January 31 to February 2, 2019, in collaboration with the Career Services Office at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, the “Learning Through Play” conference took place—on the one hand, in the form of a prologue on the topic “Zug um Zug — A Theater Method Becomes a Coaching Tool,” and, secondly, as a networking meeting of the Society for Simulation Games in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (SAGSAGA).
Prologue: “Zug um Zug—A Theater Method Becomes a Coaching Tool”
In this part of the program, we presented the possibility of combining the “Zug um Zug” method from acting training with various approaches from coaching—in particular psychodrama, the Inner Team, and archetypes (Warrior, Thinker, Dreamer, Lover). Due to the dynamic nature of the process and the limited controllability of the situation—as well as the “doubled” antagonist—it became clear that the antagonists’ self-awareness was experienced as intense without leaving the protected space. In addition, initial scientific studies were presented, various approaches were discussed in lectures, and put to the test in practical exercises on stage.
Network Meeting of the Society for Simulation Games in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (SAGSAGA)
The SAGSAGA network meeting also took place as part of the “Learning Through Play” conference. The event focused intensively on the use of simulation games, board games, serious games, and other game-based approaches in higher education pedagogy and research. The focus of the meeting was on engineering education and the STEM field. Participants jointly explored the question: “What approaches within simulation game methodology exist to model complex issues in the STEM field?”
The conference was rounded out with two inspiring keynote addresses by Prof. Dr. Jens Junge from the design akademie berlin/SRH University of Communication and Design on the topic “Playing? – Why the Useless Is Useful” and by Antonia Bartning, who presented the simulation game “Pitch Your Green Idea – The Sustainable Startup Game,” as well as the successful evening program featuring modern, sustainable, and nutritious fast food at Mister Bales in Zittau. In summary, all guests and organizers were highly satisfied and are confident that there will be more conferences in the future at our university on topics such as higher education, engineering education, and game-based design.
