Supplementary Materials: Crime Dinner– A Serious Game for Fostering Sustainability Competencies
Abstract
This dataset contains the complete design and implementation materials for the serious role-playing game "Eine tödliche Ladung", developed as part of a Bachelor Thesis on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The game simulates a complex, multi-stakeholder conflict surrounding the planned construction of a battery gigafactory in the fictional municipality of Lüneberg. It is designed to foster Key Competencies in Sustainability (KCS) among higher education students by forcing them to navigate the trade-offs between economic development, ecological preservation, and social justice. The repository includes the following files: Character Profiles: Detailed role descriptions for eight active stakeholders, including their specific sustainability conflicts, backgrounds, and hidden agendas. Narrative Cues (Hint Cards): A complete set of gameplay clues (Round 1 and Round 2) used to reveal systemic interdependencies, secrets, and plot twists during the session. Pedagogical Framework: A Competency Matrix linking specific game mechanics and narrative elements to the Key Competencies in Sustainability framework (e.g., Systems Thinking, Normative Competence). Assessment Tools: The Observation Guide (Beobachtungsleitfaden) used to qualitatively assess the manifestation of competencies during the role-play.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Educational Games and Gamification
Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences
Sustainability in Higher Education
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Göttingen Research Online
- Publication date
- 3 February 2026