Demogames

This project combines the didactic approach of game-based learning with civic education. The goal was to create educational offers that do not abstractly teach democratic processes, norms, and values based on knowledge alone. Game-based learning can convey complex concepts through experiential, activating, and visually appealing means. Additionally, games are suitable as teaching and learning tools due to their clear structure, which can be flexibly utilized in various contexts.

The eight educational games and supporting materials were developed and tested by international and interdisciplinary teams. The development was based on the reference framework: Competences for a Democratic Culture of the Council of Europe.

The project results were tested at two international workshops that lasted for several days, one in Almunecar (Spain, December 2021) with young people and young adults, and one in Timisoara (Romania, April 2022) with civic education practitioners.

The results of the project are available for free on the project website www.demogames.eu and include:

• The Democracy Game Box consists of eight dice, board, and card games that can be used in various contexts such as extracurricular youth work, schools and training. They are suitable for players from age twelve and upward. The games offer various approaches to democracy, both thematically and in gameplay, and are available as 'Print&play' options for free.

• The Demogames Facilitator's Manual contains background information on conceptualizations of democracy and education practices, as well as specific tips and example implementations of each game. The handbook can be downloaded for free or ordered as a printed version (ordering option available).

• In addition to the manual, there is a Massive Open Online Course with explanatory videos for all the games as well as overarching topics such as democracy, civic education, and game-based learning.

• Finally, a curriculum for trainers has been developed, which serves as a basis for various further training offerings, particularly for our project Multiplying Democracy.

Demogames was co-financed by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union from 2019 to 2022.

The Demokrative was one of six partner organizations from five countries. The other partners were:

• The German institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) follows leading motto “theoria cum praxis” with sought-after experts and is actively engaged in policy advice and academic knowledge transfer into a broader public at different levels.

• DARE-Network: The European network on Democracy and Human Rights Education (DARE) advocates for independent human rights and democratic citizenship education as an integral part of lifelong learning and encourages cooperation between formal, non-formal education and youth work as a contribution towards democratic resilient societies.

• Culture Goes Europe (CGE) Erfurt e.V. is experienced in the development and experimentation with various educational ICT tools such as mobile App, web based applications and has been frequently engaged in developing training courses as well as creating various tools and educational materials with high quality work and outputs.

• DA2 Trucados is an organization active on the local and regional level in the south of Spain and expert in game design and gamification of learning processes as well as another layer of contact with youth groups in schools and out of school learning contexts.

• The Intercultural Institute of Timisoara (IIT) is expert in Competences for Democratic Culture from Council of Europe and experienced with past projects on democracy education for youth and young adults (including the use of new technologies).

The involvement of Demokrative in the Demogames project was initiated by founding member Saskia Ruth-Lovell and initially led by Rebecca Welge, followed by Sabine Jenni.

Those involved in the project work included Rebecca Welge, Sabine Jenni, Robert Lovell, Patrik Kessler, Francis Stieglitz, and Johanna Flach.