• Since March 2021, Research Assistant in the Didactics of General Studies at the University of Oldenburg
• April 2022 – March 2023 Acting Professor (W3) in “Primary School Education with a specialisation in General Studies and its Didactics” at the University of Greifswald
• February 2021 Second State Examination for teaching at primary, secondary, Realschule and comprehensive schools in the subjects History and Chemistry at the ZfsL in Dortmund
• 11/2019 – 02/2021 Trainee teacher at the ZfsL Dortmund (Maria Sibylla Merian Comprehensive School, Bochum)
• July 2015 – October 2019 Research assistant at the Institute for the Didactics of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen
• 09/2018 Awarded a Doctor rer. nat. degree from the University of Duisburg-Essen
• February 2016: Visiting researcher at the Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Chair of Personality Psychology and Diagnostics
• May 2015 – June 2015 Trainee teacher at the ZfsL Mönchengladbach (Bischöfliche Maria-Montessori Comprehensive School, Krefeld)
• March 2015: First State Examination for teaching at primary, Hauptschule, Realschule and comprehensive schools, University of Duisburg-Essen; subjects: Chemistry and History
• 10/2010 – 03/2015 Degree course for teaching at primary, secondary and comprehensive schools at the University of Duisburg-Essen; subjects: Chemistry and History
• 2001 – 2010 General Higher Education Entrance Qualification at the Arndt Gymnasium, Krefeld

project

Creativityin General Studies(more information on the KreaSach project)

Other key research focuses

• Pupils’ conceptions
• Extracurricular learning environments
• Humour in science lessons
• Humour in health education
• Health education in General Studies
• Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
• Language development in General Studies
• Augmented and virtual reality in General Studies
• (Creative) Programming in General Studies

Kirstein, D., Holzapfel, M. A., & Müller, J.-M. (in preparation). To build successfully, you need a good foundation – minimum standards in the ‘Structure of Matter’ core concept at the transition from general science to subject-specific science teaching. ZfDN.

Holzapfel, M. A., Dittert, N. & Große, C.S. (in press). A creative learning environment in the SULab student laboratory. In: H. van Vorst (ed.), Learning, teaching and research in the student laboratory. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Bochum 2024. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Rau-Patschke, S., Holzapfel, M. A. & Bußkamp, S. (forthcoming). Creativity through active learning in General Studies. In: H. van Vorst (ed.), Learning, teaching and research in the student laboratory. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Bochum 2024. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Holzapfel, M., Dittert, N. (in press). Creativity and Computing Science education in General Studies. In: A. Best, J. Grey, I. Gryl, L. Humbert, M. Kuckuck & D. Schmitz (eds.) Computing Science education in primary schools: findings, discussions, experiences (IBG-BDE-2023).

Holzapfel, M. A., Große, C. S., & Dittert, N. (2024). Measuring Creativity of Primary School Pupils in the Context of a Coding and Storytelling Intervention. Creative Education, 15(09), 1818–1832. doi.org/10.4236/ce.2024.159111

Holzapfel, M.A., Sealfon, C. D., Natalizio, B. J., & Holmes, R. (2024). Cultivating Ensembles at ISLS. In C. Hoadley & X. C. Wang (Eds.), General Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the International Society of the Learning Sciences 2024. Buffalo, USA: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Rau-Patschke, S., Holzapfel, M. & Kawrigin, A. (2024). Creativity and movement in General Studies from teachers’ perspectives. In : H. van Vorst (ed.), Early science education. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Hamburg 2023. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Haarhus, L., Holzapfel, M.A. & Brückmann, M. (2024). AR dinosaur models in General Studies. In: H. van Vorst (ed.), Early Science Education. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Hamburg 2023. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Holzapfel, M. & Stachelscheid, K. (2024). The influence of subject-specific humour on health awareness from childhood through to young adulthood. In F. Fischer, C. Peifer, T. E. Scheel, & M. Bartzik (Eds.), Humour – a health factor to be taken seriously: Foundations and research for practical application (1st edition, pp. 129–140). Hogrefe.

Holzapfel, M. A. & Dittert, N. (2023). KreaSach Pro – A playful approach to algorithms through a creative learning environment with educational robots. In: J. E. Martinez, B. J. Natalizio and O. H. Ali (Eds.). Cultivating Ensembles Exploring Across STE{A}M: 2022 Conference Proceedings. Lloyd International Honors College, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. https://honorscollege.uncg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Cultivating-Ensembles-Conference-Proceedings.pdf

Sealfon, C. D., Gross, N., Holzapfel, M., Borinskaya, S., Natalizio, B. J., & Holmes, R. (2023). Cultivating Ensembles in Education and Research at ISLS. In J. D. Slotta & E. S. Charles (Eds.), General Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Meeting of the International Society of the Learning Sciences 2023. Montreal, Canada: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Rau-Patschke, S. & Holzapfel, M. (2023). Mixing – Puzzling – Separating: Creativity through Movement? In: H. van Vorst (ed.), Learning, Teaching and Research in a Digitally Shaped World. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Aachen 2022. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Holzapfel, M. (2023). Creativity in general studies in science and technology. In: H. van Vorst (ed.), Learning, Teaching and Research in a Digitally Shaped World. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Aachen 2022. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Holzapfel, M. A., Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N. & Brückmann, M. (2023). What are the attitudes and values of science education students towards the use of and learning with AR and VR? In: D. Schmeinck, K. Michalik & T. Goll (Eds.). Challenges and Future Prospects (pp. 71–78). Bad Heilbrunn: Julius Klinkhardt Publishers.

Holzapfel, M. A., Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N., & Brückmann, M. (2023). Attitudes and values of primary school teacher training students towards learning with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in General Studies. MedienPädagogik: Journal of Theory and Practice in Media Education, 51, 151–169. https://doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/51/2023.01.16.X

Holzapfel, M. A., Jaggy, A.-K., & Brückmann, M. (2022). Creativity in German Science Education in Primary Schools: Preservice Teachers’ Perspectives on Whether It Is Essential, Possible or Completely Unnecessary. Creative Education, 13(04), 1421–1438. doi.org/10.4236/ce.2022.134087

Bakenhus, S., Holzapfel, M., Arndt, N. & Brückmann, M. (2022). The creation of a learning environment using immersive virtual reality for General Studies based on the M-iVR-L model. MedienPädagogik: Journal of Theory and Practice in Media Education, 47(AR/VR – Part 1), p. 7693. doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/47/2022.04.04.X

Huss, J. A., Morrow, T., Tish, N., Miyata, C., Singer, A., Holzapfel, M. A., & Vaidya, K. (2022). Teach Education Studies With a Sense of Humour: Why (and How to) Be a Funnier and More Effective Education Studies Teacher and Laugh All the Way to Your Classroom. The Curious Academic Publishing.

Holzapfel, M. A. (2022) ‘I Am Much Too Serious – How Can I Still Teach Humorously?’ In: J. A. Huss, T. Morrow, N. Tish, C. Miyata, A. Singer, M. A. Holzapfel & K. Vaidya (eds.), Teach Education Studies With a Sense of Humour: Why (and How to) Be a Funnier and More Effective Education Studies Teacher and Laugh All the Way to Your Classroom. The Curious Academic Publishing.

Holzapfel, M. (2020). Evaluating the effectiveness of humour training. In: S. Habig (ed.), Scientific Competences in Tomorrow’s Society. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Vienna 2019. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K., Walpuski, M., & Rumann, S. (2019). Subject-Specific Humour as a Creative Method to Communicate Health Knowledge. *Creative Education*, 10, 1819–1833. doi: 10.4236/ce.2019.108131

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2019). Health education through subject-specific humour. In: C. Maurer (ed.), Science Education as a Foundation for Professional and Social Participation. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Kiel 2018. (p. 381). University of Regensburg.

Holzapfel, M. (2018). Subject-specific humour as a method in health education during the transition from primary to lower secondary education. Berlin: Logos.

Rau-Patschke, S., Gryl, I., Rumann, S., Bernhard, M., Ebers, M., Fletcher, S., Holzapfel, M., Kania, T. M., Kleinteich, A., Mambrey, S., Manzel, S., Ohlenforst, S., Roll, H., Schmiemann, P., Schreiber, N., Sowinski, M., Stachelscheid, K., Theyßen, H., Viefers, R., & Walpuski, M. (2018). Methodological approaches to researching the transition from General Studies to subject-specific teaching in lower secondary education. GDSU Journal (8), (pp. 110–134).

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2018). Subject-specific humour as a method in health education. In: C. Maurer (ed.), High-quality chemistry and physics teaching – normative and empirical dimensions. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Regensburg 2017. (pp. 278–280). University of Regensburg.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2017). Health education during the transition from primary to lower secondary school. In: C. Maurer (ed.), Implementation of subject-specific didactic innovation as reflected in research and practice. Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Zurich 2016. (pp. 632–635). University of Regensburg.

Presentations

Rau-Patschke, S. & Holzapfel, M. A. (September 2024) Conditions for the success of creative General Studies from teachers’ perspectives. Presentation at the conference of the DGfE Commission for Primary School Research and Primary Education, Saarbrücken.

Holzapfel, M. A., Dittert, N. & Große, C.S. (September 2024) A creative learning environment in the SULab student laboratory. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Bochum.

Rau-Patschke, S. & Holzapfel, M. A. (September 2024) Creativity through active learning in General Studies. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Bochum.

Holzapfel, M. A., Dittert, N. & Große, C.S. (March 2024) Playful programming of the BlueBot on individual fields. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Hanover.

Holzapfel, M. A. & Rau-Patschke, S. ( March 2024) Active learning as a driver of creative thinking processes in the context of problem-solving – the teachers’ perspective. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Hanover.

Brückmann, M., Tempelmann, S., Arndt, A., Bakenhus, S., Dubach, J., Haarhus, L. & Holzapfel, M.A. (March 2024) Is the (real) world not enough? Findings on the use of augmented and virtual reality in General Studies. Symposium at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Hanover.

Rau-Patschke, S. & Holzapfel, M. A. (September 2023) Creativity and physical activity in General Studies from teachers’ perspectives. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Hamburg.

Holzapfel, M. A. (June 2023) Creativity in General Studies – programming: a playful approach to algorithms. Invited presentation at the Foko Primary School – research colloquium for staff training primary school teachers, Greifswald.

Holzapfel, M. & Dittert, N. (February 2023). KreaSach Pro – a playful approach to algorithms. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Salzburg.

Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N., Holzapfel, M. & Brückmann, M. (February 2023). Evenburg Castle as an extracurricular virtual learning space?! – Testing a seminar concept. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Salzburg.

Holzapfel, M. (September 2022). Creativity in General Studies in the sciences and technology. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Aachen.

Holzapfel, M., Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N. & Brückman, M. (March 2022). Attitudes and values of general studies teacher training students regarding pupils’ conceptions and prior experiences of learning with iVR. Presentation at the 31st Annual Conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Cologne (online).

Holzapfel, M. & Stachelscheid, K. (September 2019). To joke or not to joke – that is NOT the question! On the use of humour in the classroom. Plenary lecture at the Autumn School on Heterogeneity and Teaching at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen.

Holzapfel, M. (June 2019). Checking the effectiveness of a humour training programme. Presentation at the Annual Conference of the International Society for Humour Studies (ISHS), Austin.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (March 2019). Health education in the transition from primary to secondary school. Presentation at the 28th Annual Conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Lüneburg.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (September 2018). Health education through subject-specific humour. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Kiel.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (July 2018). Fit for sun with chemistry-specific humour. Presentation at the Annual Conference of the International Conference on Chemistry Education (ICCE), Sydney.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (June 2018). Learning materials incorporating subject-specific humour used in health education. Presentation at the annual conference of the International Society for Humor Studies (ISHS), Tallinn.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (September 2017). Subject-specific humour as a method in health education. Presentation at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Regensburg.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (March 2017).To joke or not to joke – that is not the question! On the use of humour in health education. Presentation. 26th Annual Conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU). Symposium: SUSeI Research Training Group – Methodological Approaches for Researching the Transition from General Studies to Subject-Specific Teaching in Lower Secondary Education, Weingarten.

Poster presentations

Haarhus, L., Holzapfel, M. A. & Brückmann, M. (September 2023) AR dinosaur models in General Studies. Poster for the Annual Conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Hamburg.

Arndt, N., Holzapfel, M., Bakenhus, S. and Brückmann, M. (December 2022) Immersive virtual reality in General Studies: From student ideas to theoretical implementation. Poster for the workshop ‘Immersive experiences and the extension of reality at the Learning Lab’ organised by the IZfB at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen.

Haarhus, L., Holzapfel, M. and Brückmann, M. (December 2022) AR cards in General Studies – An intervention study on the use of AR cards in General Studies in Years 3 and 4. Poster for the workshop ‘Immersive Experiences and the Expansion of Reality at the Learning Lab’ organised by the IZfB at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen.

Holzapfel, M., Dittert, N. (November 2022). KreaSach Pro – A playful approach to algorithms through a creative learning setting with educational robots. Poster presented at the ‘Cultivating Ensembles in STEM Education and Research’ conference, Queensboro (online).

Rau-Patschke, S. and Holzapfel, M. (September 2022). Mixing – Puzzling – Separating: Creativity through movement? Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Aachen.

Holzapfel, M. & Brückmann, M. (March 2022). Creativity and creative potential in General Studies. Poster presented at the 31st Annual Conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Cologne (online).

Holzapfel, M. (September 2019). Evaluation of the effectiveness of humour training. Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Vienna.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (August 2019). Subject-Specific Humour as a Creative Method for Teaching Health Literacy. Poster presented at the conference of the European Science Education Research Association (ESERA), Bologna.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (March 2018). The use of humour in health education to facilitate the transition. Poster presented at the 27th Annual Conference of the Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU), Dresden. (3rd prize in the poster competition)

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (September 2017). Subject-specific humour as a method of health education in the transition from primary-level General Studies to subject-specific teaching in lower secondary education. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Chemistry Teaching Section at the Science Forum of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), Berlin.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (July 2017). Subject-specific humour in health education from primary to secondary school. Poster presented at the annual conference of the International Society for Humor Studies (ISHS), Montréal.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (September 2016). Subject-specific humour on the topic of sun protection during the transition from primary to lower secondary school. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP), Zurich.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (May 2016). Effectiveness of self-study materials incorporating subject-specific humour on the topic of sun protection during the transition from primary to lower secondary school. Poster presented at the opening workshop of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Research (IZfB), Essen.

Workshops

Holzapfel, M.A., Sealfon, C. D., Natalizio, B. J., & Holmes, R. (June 2024). Cultivating Ensembles at ISLS. In C. Hoadley & X. C. Wang (Eds.), General Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the International Society of the Learning Sciences 2024. Buffalo, USA: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Sealfon, C., Gross, N., Raman, P., Holzapfel, M., Natalizio, B., Holmes, R. (June 2023). Cultivating Ensembles in Education and Research. Pre-conference workshop at the International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS) conference in Montréal.

Dittert, N., Holzapfel, M. (September 2022). KreaSach Pro. Presentation at the workshop ‘Inspiring a passion for Computing Science – from childhood to Abitur (Computing Science Enthusiasm 2022)’ at INFORMATIK 2022, Hamburg.

Holzapfel, M. (September 2019). Creating humour – yes, please! Developing ideas for illustrations with subject-specific humour. Workshop at the Autumn School on Heterogeneity and Teaching at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen.

Holzapfel, M. (June 2019). Generating ideas for comics with subject-specific humour for use in chemistry and health education. Workshop at the ‘Cultivating Ensembles in STEM Education and Research’ (CESTEMER) conference, New York City.

Holzapfel, M. (September 2018). Generating ideas for comics with subject-specific humour for use in chemistry and health education. Workshop at the ‘Performing the World’ (PTW) conference, New York City.

Memberships

Society for the Didactics of General Studies (GDSU)

Society for the Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP)

Committees

Commission for Teacher Training (CvO, University of Oldenburg, October 2021 to March 2023)

Teaching Council (CvO, University of Oldenburg, representative for School 1, October 2021 to March 2023)

Digitalisation Working Group (CvO, University of Oldenburg, representative for mid-level academic staff, School 1, April 2023 to present)