Educational Live-Action Role-Playing Games in Adult Education: Constituents and Perspectives

Authors

Keywords:

edu-larp, creative thinking, lifelong learning, innovating teaching methods, adult education

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of adult trainers in Greece about educational live-action role-playing games (edu-larps) and their utilization as a teaching method. More specifically, it is an attempt to determine the trainers’ attitude in association with the cultivation of basic skills in adult education (interdisciplinarity, collaboration, critical thinking, and inquiry-based
learning) while using this method. The study also examines whether there is a connection between the trainers’ perceptions towards edu-larps and their demographics. The ultimate goal for the study is to act as an introduction for this particular educational community to an innovative teaching method and to set the ground for further research that will broaden the pedagogical field.

The results show that the concepts described above are an integral part of edu-larps, specifically the advancement of critical thinking and the innate interdisciplinary aspect of this teaching method. Additionally, there seems to be a statistically significant correlation between the level of specialized training in adult education and the utilization of edu-larps on behalf of the educators.

References

Al Basha, Hala Abdel Raheem. 2018. Investigating Teachers’ Perceptions and Implementation of STEM Education in the United Arab Emirates. Master’s thesis, British University in Dubai.

Archer-Kuhn, Beth, and Stacey MacKinnon. 2020. “Inquiry-Based Learning in Higher Education: A Pedagogy of Trust.” Journal of Education and Training Studies 8, no. 9: 187-207. Link here.

Baker, Sally. 2013. “Conceptualising the Use of Facebook in Ethnographic Research: As Tool, As Data and As Context.” Ethnography and Education 8, no. 2: 131-145. Link here.

Beckett, David. 2011. “Adult Learning: Philosophical Issues.” In Adult Learning and Education, edited by K. Rubenson, 35-40. Elsevier.

Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2023. The Documentary Back to School: Supporting Neuro-Divergent Students Through Larp [audio podcast]. Bbc.co.uk. Link here.

Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2017. “Connecting Stage Acting, Role-Playing, And Improvisation.” In Analog Game Studies, volume 2, edited by Emma Leigh Waldron and Aaron Trammell, 143-154. ETC Press.

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, and Anne Standiford. 2015. “Educational Larp in the Middle School Classroom: A Mixed Method Case Study.” International Journal of Role-Playing 5: 4-25. Link here.

Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2014. “Educational Live-Action Role-Playing Games: A Secondary Literature Review.” In Wyrd Con Companion Book 2014, edited by Sarah Lynne Bowman, 112-131. Los Angeles, CA: Wyrd Con.

Branc, Blaž. 2016. Edu-larp as a Game-Based Learning Method for Corporate Training. Master thesis, Univerza v Ljubljan. Repozitorij Univerze v Ljubljani. Link here.

Burner, Tony. 2018. “Why is Educational Change So Difficult and How Can We Make It More Effective?” Research and Change 1, no. 1: 122-134. Link here.

Chalkia, Krystalia. 2020. Διδάσκοντας Φυσικές Επιστήμες: Θεωρητικά Ζητήματα, Προβληματισμοί, Προτάσεις (Teaching Physical Science: Theoretical Matters, Concerns, Proposals). 3rd ed. Athens: Patakis.

Cranton, Patricia. 2011. “Adult Learning and Instruction: Transformative-Learning Perspectives.” In Adult Learning and Education, edited by K. Rubenson, 53-59. Elsevier.

Daniau, Stéphane. 2016. “The Transformative Potential of Role-Playing Games: From Play Skills to Human Skills.” Simulation and Gaming 47, no. 4: 423-444. Link here.

DiaNeosis. 2021. Η Εκπαίδευση και Κατάρτιση Ενηλίκων στην Ελλάδα (Adult Education and Training in Greece). Link here.

Dorion, Kirk Robert. 2009. “Science Through Drama: A Multiple Case Exploration of the Characteristics of Drama Activities Used in Secondary Science Lessons”. International Journal of Science Education 31, no. 16: 2247-2270. Link here.

Erdem, Cahit. 2019. “Introduction to 21st Century Skills and Education.” In 21st Century Skills and Education, edited by Cahit Erdem, Hakki Bağci, and Mehmet Koçyiğit, 1-20. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Ernawati, Margaret, Sudarmin Sudarmin, Asrial Asrial, Haryanto Haryanto, Miftahul Azzahra, and Elza Triani. 2022. “A Study of Attitude and Interest in the Student’s Lessons.” Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences 17, no. 6: 1901-1913.

Ertuk, Emre. 2015. “Evaluation of Role-Play as a Teaching Strategy in a Systems Analysis and Design Course.” International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research 3, no. 3: 150-159.

European Commission. 2022. Official Site of European Union. Retrieved from Erasmus+ EU programme for education, training, youth and sport. Link here.

European Commission-Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. 2020. “Eurograduate Pilot Study: Country Reference Greece.” Publications Office of the European Union. Link here.

European Commission. 2020. “Education and Training Monitoring.” Publications Office of the European Union.

European Commission. 2006. “The History of European Cooperation in Education and Training.” Publications Office of the European Communities. Link here.

Fox, John, and Sanford Weisberg. 2020. Car: Companion to Applied Regression. [R package]. Link here.

Geneuss, Katrin, Fabian Obster, and Gabriele Ruppert. 2020. “‘I Have Gained Self-Confidence’: Εxploring the Impact of the Role-Playing Technique STARS on Students in German Lessons.” Scenario 10: 47-67. Link here.

Giannouli, Betty. 2021. “Drama in Education and the Principles of Experiential Learning and Critical Pedagogy.” In It Could Be Me, It Could Be You: Drama/Theatre in Education Methodologies and Activities for Raising Awareness on Human Rights and Refugees, edited by Nasia Choleva, 68-77. Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (TENet-Gr).

Hammer, Jessica, Alexandra To, Kat Schrier, Sarah Lynne Bowman, and Geoff Kaufman. 2018. “Learning and Role-Playing Games.” In Role-Playing Game Studies: Transmedia Foundations, edited by José P. Zagal and Sebastian Deterding, 283-299. Routledge.

Halili, Siti Hajar, Rafiza Abdul Razak, and Zamzami Zainuddin. 2015. “Investigating the Use of Collaborative Tool in an Adult Learning Environment.” The Online Journal of New Horizons in Education 5, no.4: 51-60.

Hellenic Statistical Authority. 2023. “Adult Education Survey: Year 2022.” Hellenic Republic Publications.

Houghton, Deidre, Gary Soles, Andrew Vogelsang, Valerie Irvine, Francois Prince, Leona Prince, Carla Martin, Jean-Paul Restoule, and Micahel Paskevicious. 2022. “Truth and Reconciliation Through Inquiry-Based Collaborative Learning.” Open/Technology in Education, Society, and Scholarship Association: 1-8.

Hung, I-Chun, Xiu-Jun Yang, Wei-Chieh Fang, Gwo-Jen Hwang, and Nian-Shing Chen. 2014. “A context-aware video prompt approach to improving students’ in-field reflection levels”. Computers & Education 70: 80-91. Link here.

Kalogridi, Sofia. 2019. “Η Αυτοκατευθυνόμενη Μάθηση σε Προγράμματα Εκπαίδευσης Ενηλίκων και εξ Αποστάσεως Εκπαίδευσης. Ο Ρόλος του Εκπαιδευτή Ενηλίκων. (Self-Directing Learning in Adults and Distance Education Programs. The Role of the Adult Educator).” Proceedings of the 10th International Conference in Open and Distance Learning: 115-126. November 2019, Athens, Greece. Link here.

Kamm, Björn-Ole, and Julia Becker 2016. “Live-Action Role-Play or the Performance of Realities.” In Simulation and Gaming in the Network Society, edited by Toshiyuki Kaneda, Hidehiko Kanegae, Yusuke Toyoda, and Paola Rizzi, 35-52. Springer. Link here.

Kaplan, Danielle E. 2019. “Creativity in Education: Teaching for Creativity Development.” Psychology 10: 140-147. Link here.

Kapur, Radhika. 2019. Introduction to Adult Education. ResearchGate. Link here.

Kapur, Radhika. 2019. The Adult-Learner-Meaning and Significance. ResearchGate. Link here.

Kara, Merve. 2019. “A Systematic Literature Review: Constructivism in Multidisciplinary Learning Environments.” International Journal of Academic Research in Education 4, no. 1-2: 19-26. Link here.

Khan, Shehla. 2017. “Role-Play: A Teaching Strategy That Adds Fun in Learning.” International Journal of Current Research 9 no. 8: 55916-55919.

Kokkos, Alexis, and Associates. 2011. Εκπαίδευση Μέσα από τις Τέχνες (Education Through the Arts). Metaixmio.

Koulaouzidis, George A. 2008. “Μετασχηματίζουσα Μάθηση: Μια Μαθησιακή Θεωρία για την Εκπαίδευση Ενηλίκων (Transformative Learning: A Learning Theory about Adult Education).” Pedagogical Inspection 46: 21-32.

Lacanienta, Andrew. 2022. “Live-Action Role-Play as Pedagogy for Experiential Learning”. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education 37, no. 1-2: 70-76. Link here.

Larsson, Kristoffer. 2017. “Understanding and Teaching Critical Thinking -A New Approach”. International Journal of Educational Research 84: 32-42. Link here.

Liakos, Yiannis. 2023. “Lifelong Learning Lagging in Greece.” eKathimerini, November 12, 2023. Link here.

Macrí, Ester, and Cristiano Tessitore. 2011. “Facebook Sampling Methods: Some Methodological Proposals.” In Proceedings of the New Techniques and Technologies for Statistics Conference in 2011.

Maragliano, Andrea. 2019. “Edu-larp Paths in Education: A Pedagogic Research on Ethnic Prejudice and Empathy Through Games.” In Proceedings of 9th International Conference the Future of Education, 455-462. Florence: Filodiritto Editore. Link here.

Marini, Maria. I. 2019. “Ο Ρόλος του Εκπαιδευτή Ενηλίκων στα Σχολεία Δεύτερης Ευκαιρίας. Σχολείο Δεύτερης Ευκαιρίας «Αργώ»” (The Role of Adult Educator in Second Chance Schools. Second Change School “Argo”). Procedures of the 2nd Panhellenic Scientific Conference with International Participation “Greece-Europe 2020: Education, Lifelong Learning, Research, New Technologies, Innovation and Economy 2: 514-532. Lamia.

Melani, Ester, and Rahayu Kuswardani. 2022. “Students’ Perception and Challenge on Online Learning During Pandemic: EFL Senior High School Speaking Learning Context.” RETAIN (Research on English Language Teaching in Indonesia) 10, no. 2: 1-8.

Meriam, Sharam B. 2011. “Adult Learning.” In Adult Learning and Education, edited by K. Rubenson, 29-34. Elsevier.

Michailidis, Tasos, and Nikos Zikos. 2016. “Η Διεπιστημονικότητα ως Επιστημολογικό Ζήτημα: Ένα Διαρκές Διακύβευμα στην Έρευνα και στη Σύγχρονη Εκπαίδευση (Interdisciplinary as a Scientific Issue: A Constant in Research and Modern Education).” Chemistry Chronicles 78, no.7: 14-18.

Mochocki, Michal. 2014. “Larping the Past: Research Report on High-School Edu-Larp.” In Wyrd Con Companion Book, edited by Sarah Lynne Bowman, 132-148. Wyrd Con.

Montola, Markus. 2009. “The Invisible Rules of Role-Playing: The Social Framework of Role-Playing Process.” International Journal of Role-Playing 1: 22-36. Link here.

Newel, William H. 2013. “The State of the Field: Interdisciplinary Theory.” Issues in Interdisciplinary Studies, no. 31: 22-43.

OECD. 2022. Building the Future of Education. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Ohei, Kenneth Nwanua, and Chukwuere Joshua. 2022. “Social Media Research: Sampling Techniques, Data Collection, Analysis, and Discussion.” In A-Z of Social Media Research Methods, edited by Joshua Chukwuere, Dickson Adom, and Precious Chibuike Chukwuere, 104-127. Jozac Publishers.

Pandonge, Thomas, and Ridha Natalia Balol. 2021. “Perceptions of Certified Teachers About the Applying Scientific Approach in Teaching Process.” Sintuwu Maroso Journal of English Teaching 7, no. 1: 55-63.

Prager, Partick, and Richard Heinz. 2019. “Exploring the Use of Role-playing Games in Education.” Master of Teaching Research Journal, no. 2.

R Core Team. 2021. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. (Version 4.1) [Computer software]. (R packages retrieved from MRAN snapshot January 1, 2022). Link here.

Reacting the Past: Barnard College. 2023. Barnard College-Columbia University. Link here.

Saad, Mohamed, Bushara, Saadoon, Mohamed, Al-Noori, and Bushra Al-Noori. 2021. “Development of Creative Thinking Skills in English Language Teaching.” International Journal of Research in Science and Technology 10, no. 21. Link here.

Schmit, Wagner Luiz, João Batista Martins, and Thales Ferreira. 2009. “Role-playing Games and Education in Brazil: How We Do It.” In Larp, the Universe, and Everything, edited by Matthijs Holter, Eirik Fatland, and Even Tømte, 75-96. Knutepunkt.

Solakis, Konstantinos, Melina Solaki, and Aikaterini Nikolaou. 2016. “Χρησιμοποιώντας τη Μέθοδο της Μετασχηματίζουσας Μάθησης Μέσα από την Αισθητική Εμπειρία στην Εκπαίδευση Ενηλίκων (Using the Method of Transformative Learning Through the Aesthetic Experience in Adult Education).” Proceedings of the 2nd Panhellenic Conference with International Participation for the Promotion of Innovation in Education, vol. C. Larissa.

Sun, Qi, and Haijun Kang. 2021. “Learning through Academic Collaborations in/With the East: North American adult education Scholars’ Insights.” Adult Education Quarterly 72, no. 1: 3-23. Link here.

Talmage, Craig, Robert Hansen, Richard Charles Knopf, and Steve Thaxton. 2018. “Directions for 21st Century Lifelong Learning Institutes: Elucidating Questions from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Studies.” Alberta Journal of Educational Research 64 no. 2: 109-125.

Telemaque, Elvetha. 2011. “A Review of Brookfield, D. Stephen. 2005. The Power of Critical Theory: Liberating Adult Learning and Teaching.” Journal of Research on Christian Education 20: 345-348.

The Jamovi Project 2022. Jamovi. (Version 2.3) [Computer Software]. Link here.

Thurlins, Marieke, Arnoud T. Evers, and Marjan Vermeulen. 2015. “Toward a Model of Explaining Teacher’s Innovative Behavior: A Literary Review.” Review of Educational Research 85 (3), 430-471. Link here.

Timpalexi, Eleni. 2011. “A Case Study in Educational Game Designing: Junior Chemists in Action! An Educational Live-action Role-playing Game (Larp) Analysis With a Computer Based Learning Element.” 5th European Conference on Games: 595-603. Athens.

Titirou, Christina. 2016. “Δια Βίου Μάθηση και Αγορά Εργασίας: Η Δια Βίου Μάθηση στον Οργανισμό Απασχόλησης Εργατικού Δυναμικού (Lifelong Learning and the Labor Market: Lifelong Learning in the Workforce Employment Organization).” Education, Lifelong Learning, Research and Technological Development, Innovation, and Economy 1: 173-178. Link here.

Torner, Evan. 2022. “Film and Literature Instruction Through Live-Action Role-Play.” In Teaching Games and Game Studies in the Literature Classroom, edited by Tison Pugh and Lynn Ramey, 177-184. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Uppsala University. 2025. “Master’s Programme in Transformative Game Design 60 Credits.” Uu.se. Link here.

Vocational Institute of Greece. 2021. Network of Information and Counseling Services for Employees and Unemployed Individuals- Second Chance Schools (SCS) and their Contribution to Employment Integration. Retrieved June 27, 2024. Link here.

WEF. 2020. The Future of Jobs. World Economic Forum.

White, Catriona. 2017. BBC. Retrieved March 21, 2022. Bbc.co.uk. Link here.

Witwer, Michael. 2016. Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons. Bloomsbury USA.

Wright, Angela. 2018. “Assessing Lifelong Learners Through Enquiry Based Learning: A Master’s Level Perspective.” The Irish Journal of Adult and Community Education: 134-142.

Xafakos, Efstathios and Vassiliki Tzika. 2023. “Exploring Educators’ Perceptions of Innovative School Climate: A Mixed Methods Study.” In Proceedings of The 1st National Scientific Conference “Education in the 21st Century: Contemporary Challenges and Considerations,” 115-127. May 13-15, 2022, Ioannina, Greece.

Yildirim, Kamil, Gkhan Arastaman, and Elif Dasci. 2016. “The Relationship between Teachers’ Attitudes toward Measurement and Evaluation and their Perceptions of Professional Well-Being.” Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 62: 77-96. Link here.

Zafiropoulos, Konstantinos. 2015. How to Conduct a Scientific Project: Scientific Research and Writing. 2nd ed. Athens: Kritiki.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-11

How to Cite

Tsiaras, I., & Neofotistos, V. (2026). Educational Live-Action Role-Playing Games in Adult Education: Constituents and Perspectives . International Journal of Role-Playing, (17), 1–21. Retrieved from https://journals.uu.se/IJRP/article/view/596