With Senaryon, we are bringing interactive political simulations to schools in Bavaria - since 2022! On behalf of the Bavarian State Agency for Political Education (BLZ), we are providing eight different digital simulation games via Senaryon, which can be used free of charge by all teachers in Bavaria. On average, over 250 simulation games are run each year – in our view, a huge success! The BLZ team is responsible for supporting the facilitators and issuing the game keys.

What it’s all about: The simulation games address current political and social issues: climate protection, digital policy, foreign and security policy, international relations, financial and budgetary policy, as well as local politics and generational change. The games are set at local and municipal, national and European, and global and international levels. They are designed so that they can be carried out with different target groups from Year 8 onwards. The games last between 3 and 5 hours and can be easily integrated into lessons. It is also possible to spread the activity across several lessons. And some of the games are even available in English! 

How it works: Interested teachers contact the BLZ, which then issues a game key allowing the teacher to set up the game for their course or class. On the day of the simulation game, students simply enter a code on their own mobile device or a school tablet and are automatically assigned a role in the simulation game. The teacher monitors the players’ activities via the moderation area and is supported by the platform’s in-game instructions. Detailed teaching materials are available to provide context and facilitate evaluation. The game can be run without prior technical knowledge using the accompanying guide. The simulation games and accompanying materials are presented in detail and tested during regular training sessions.

What makes this project special is the independent management of the simulation games. On behalf of the BLZ, we developed the content for the simulation games and produced a detailed guide on how to run them. The BLZ has been managing the simulation games entirely independently for several years. It has acquired a full licence to run the simulation games and offers training courses on how to do so. The Senaryon team is on hand in the background to answer any technical questions.

Are you involved in educational work in Bavaria? Then get in touch with the BLZ! 

Are you based in another federal state but still interested in running our Senaryon-based simulation games independently? Then request your free trial licence today or sign up for one of our free short training sessions! You can find all the information here.