,,Experience Democracy” – Escape Room
| Keywords | Education |
| Target Group | Teenagers (13-17) |
| Used Methods | Workshops |
| Categories | Educating |
| Level of Participation | Local Level |
| Approach | Low-Threshold |
| Format of the Method | Analog (Face To Face) |
| Location or Venue | Berufsschule Neu-Ulm, |
| Number of Participants | 8 |
Duration
| From | Until |
| 13/05/2026 | 24/06/2026 |
Short Description
Young people develop a mobile, educational escape room on the topic of democracy for their peers. Through their active involvement in concept, story, puzzles, and materials, they playfully acquire key democratic principles and pass on their knowledge to other young people through the game.
The focus is on fundamental rights, separation of powers, elections, media literacy, and the key features that distinguish democracy from dictatorship. In around 60 minutes, teams of 4–8 people are to solve cooperative puzzles, make well-reasoned decisions, and experience how reliable information and collaboration pave the way to a solution. Afterwards, the experiences are reflected upon together and transferred to the everyday lives of the participants.
Step-by-step explanation
Step 1
1. Fundamental rights matching (assign everyday situations to specific articles) – the group devises everyday scenarios that can be linked to fundamental rights.
Step 2
2. Separation of powers puzzle (link legislative/executive/judiciary) – the group identifies real-life examples to be assigned in the game to the legislature, judiciary, or executive.
Step 3
3. Conducting elections correctly (ballot secrecy, valid votes) – the group prepares election scenarios where mistakes have occurred; during the game, players should uncover which situations are not in line with a properly conducted election.
Step 4
4. Fake news check (source criticism, etc.) – the group prepares examples of news items—some are fake and others are not; during the game, players decide which items are fake news.
Step 5
5. Democracy vs. dictatorship – the group prepares examples to be assigned to either democracy or dictatorship.
Step 6
6. Identifying discrimination – the group prepares examples that constitute discrimination and also examples that do not.
Results
A reusable mobile democracy Escape Room, six educational puzzle stations, a digital project portfolio, a highlight video, a poster and a Kahoot quiz. Young people strengthen their knowledge of democracy as well as teamwork, communication and critical thinking skills.
Goals
- Subject-specific: Be able to identify and apply key elements of democracy, both when designing the game and when playing it.
- Methodological/social: Strengthen cooperative problem-solving and communication skills, both during the development of the game and while playing it.
- Attitudinal objective: Promote appreciation for participation, responsibility, and evidence-based decision-making.
What is needed
Use inclusive materials (plain language, large print, haptic elements).
• Process: Photo and video documentation, process log, materials and puzzle handbook.
• Product: Digital project portfolio with story, puzzle cards, setup plan, debrief guide; 2–3 minute highlight video. Poster with learned content. Kahoot quiz covering the learned content.
• Dissemination: Post on the school website, social media post, presentation in plenary/at a wrap-up event