• since 03/2021 Research assistant in the didactics of subject teaching at the University of Oldenburg
• 04/2022 - 03/2023 Substitute professor (W3) "Primary school pedagogy with a focus on subject teaching and its didactics" at the University of Greifswald
• 02/2021 2nd State Examination for the teaching profession at primary/secondary/secondary and comprehensive schools with the subjects History and Chemistry at the ZfsL Dortmund
• 11/2019 - 02/2021 Trainee teacher at the ZfsL Dortmund (Maria Sibylla Merian comprehensive school in Bochum)
• 07/2015 - 10/2019 Research assistant at the Institute of Chemistry Didactics, University of Duisburg-Essen
• 09/2018 Doctorate (rer. nat.) at the University of Duisburg-Essen
• 02/2016 Visiting researcher at the Institute of Psychology at the University of Zurich, Chair of Personality Psychology and Diagnostics
• 05/2015 - 6/2015 Trainee teacher at the ZfsL Mönchengladbach ( Bischöfliche Maria-Montessori-Gesamtschule Krefeld )
• 03/2015 1st State Examination for the teaching profession at primary/secondary/secondary and comprehensive schools, University of Duisburg-Essen, subjects: chemistry and history
• 10/2010 - 03/2015 Studied to become a teacher at primary/secondary/secondary and comprehensive schools at the University of Duisburg-Essen, subjects: chemistry and history
• 2001 - 2010 General higher education entrance qualification at Arndt-Gymnasium Krefeld

project

Creativityin the classroom(more information on the KreaSach project)

Further research focus

• Pupils' perceptions
• Extracurricular places of learning
• Humour in science lessons
• Humour in health education
• Health education in science lessons
• Education for sustainable development (ESD)
• Language promotion in science lessons
• Augmented and virtual reality in science lessons
• (Creative) programming in science lessons

Kirstein, D., Holzapfel, M. A., & Müller, J.-M. (in preparation). If you want to build successfully, you need a good foundation - Minimum standards in the basic concept of the structure of matter at the transition from scientific subject teaching to specialised teaching. ZfDN.

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

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

Holzapfel, M., Dittert, N. (in print). Creativity and Computing Science Education in Science Teaching. In: A. Best, J. Grey, I. Gryl, L. Humbert, M. Kuckuck & D. Schmitz (Eds.) Computing Science Education in Primary School: Findings, Discussions, Experiences (IBG-BDE-2023).

Holzapfel, M. A., Große, C. S., & Dittert, N. (2024). Measuring Creativity of Elementary School Students 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 science lessons from the teachers' perspective. In: H. van Vorst (Ed.), Early science education. Society for 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 science education. In: H. van Vorst (Ed.), Early science education. Society for Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Hamburg 2023. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Holzapfel, M. & Stachelscheid, K. (2024). Influence of material with subject-specific humour on health awareness from childhood to young adulthood. In F. Fischer, C. Peifer, T. E. Scheel, & M. Bartzik (Eds.), Humour - a serious health factor: foundations and research for practical use (1st ed., pp. 129-140). Hogrefe.

Holzapfel, M. A. & Dittert, N. (2023). KreaSach Pro - A playful approach to algorithms through a creative learning setting 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 Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Aachen 2022. University of Duisburg-Essen.

Holzapfel, M. (2023). Creativity in science and technology education. In: H. van Vorst (ed.), Learning, teaching and research in a digitally shaped world. Society for 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 attitudes and values do science education students have towards using and learning with AR and VR? In: D. Schmeinck, K. Michalik & T. Goll (Eds.). Challenges and future perspectives (pp. 71-78). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt.

Holzapfel, M. A., Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N., & Brückmann, M. (2023). Attitudes and values of general education students towards learning with augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in general education. MedienPädagogik: Journal for Theory and Practice of 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 Elementary Schools: Preservice Teachers' Perspective 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 with immersive virtual reality for the subject Sachunterricht using the M-iVR-L model. MedienPädagogik: Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung, 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). Effectiveness testing of a humour training. In: S. Habig (Ed.), Scientific competences in the society of tomorrow. Society for 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 basis for academic appointment and social participation. Society for 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 in the transition from primary to lower secondary level. 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 for researching the transition from subject teaching to subject teaching at lower secondary level. 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.), Quality Chemistry and Physics Teaching - Normative and Empirical Dimensions. Society for 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 in the transition from primary to lower secondary level. In: C. Maurer (ed.), Implementation of subject-specific didactic innovation as reflected in research and practice. Society for Didactics of Chemistry and Physics, Annual Conference in Zurich 2016 (pp. 632-635). University of Regensburg.

Lectures

Rau-Patschke, S. & Holzapfel, M. A. (2024, September) Conditions for the success of creative subject teaching from the perspective of teachers. Presentation at the conference of the DGfE Commission on Primary School Research and Primary School Pedagogy, Saarbrücken.

Holzapfel, M. A., Dittert, N. & Große, C.S. (2024, September) A creative learning setting in the student laboratory SULab. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Bochum.

Rau-Patschke, S. & Holzapfel, M. A. (2024, September) Creativity through active learning in science lessons. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Bochum.

Holzapfel, M. A., Dittert, N. & Große, C.S. (2024, March) Playful programming of the BlueBot on individual fields. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik des Sachunterrichts (GDSU), Hanover.

Holzapfel, M. A. & Rau-Patschke, S. (2024, March) Moving learning as a motor for creative thinking processes in the context of problem solving - the view of teachers. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik des Sachunterrichts (GDSU), Hanover.

Brückmann, M., Tempelmann, S., Arndt, A., Bakenhus, S., Dubach, J., Haarhus, L. & Holzapfel, M.A. (2024, March) Is the (real) world not enough? Findings on the use of augmented and virtual reality in subject teaching. Symposium at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik des Sachunterrichts (GDSU), Hanover.

Rau-Patschke, S. & Holzapfel, M. A. (2023, September) Creativity and movement in Sachunterricht from the teachers' perspective. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Hamburg.

Holzapfel, M. A. (2023, June) Creativity in science lessons - programming: A playful approach to algorithms. Invited presentation at the Foko Grundschule - Research Colloquium for Primary School Teaching Staff, Greifswald.

Holzapfel, M. & Dittert, N. (2023, February). KreaSach Pro - a playful approach to algorithms. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik des Sachunterrichts (GDSU), Salzburg.

Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N., Holzapfel, M. & Brückmann, M. (2023, February). Schloss Evenburg as an extracurricular virtual learning location? - Testing a seminar concept. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik des Sachunterrichts (GDSU), Salzburg.

Holzapfel, M. (2022, September). Creativity in science and technology education. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Aachen.

Holzapfel, M., Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N. & Brückman, M. (2022, March). Attitudes and values of science education students towards students' perceptions and prior experiences of learning with iVR. Presentation at the 31st annual conference of the Gesellschaft für Didaktik des Sachunterrichtes (GDSU), Cologne (online).

Holzapfel, M. & Stachelscheid, K. (2019, September). 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 Heterogeneity and Teaching at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen.

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

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

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2018, September). Health education through subject-specific humour. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Kiel.

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

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2018, June). Learning material with subject specific humour used for health education. Presentation at the annual conference of the International Society for Humour Studies (ISHS), Tallinn.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2017, September). Subject-specific humour as a method in health education. Presentation at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Regensburg.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2017, March).To joke or not to joke - that is not the question! On the use of humour in health education. Lecture. 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Didactics of Sachunterricht (GDSU). Symposium: Graduiertenkolleg SUSeI -Methodische Herangehensweisen für die Erforschung des Übergangs vom Sachunterricht in den Fachunterricht Sek I, Weingarten.

Poster presentations

Haarhus, L., Holzapfel, M. A. & Brückmann, M. (2023, September) AR dinosaur models in science lessons. Poster at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Hamburg.

Arndt, N., Holzapfel, M., Bakenhus, S. and Brückmann, M. (2022, December) Immersive virtual reality in science education: From student conception to theoretical implementation. Poster for the workshop "Immersionserleben und die Erweiterung von Realität am Learning Lab" of the IZfB of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen.

Haarhus, L., Holzapfel, M. and Brückmann, M. (2022, December) AR-Karten im Sachunterricht - Eine Interventionsstudie zum Einsatz von AR-Karten im Sachunterricht in den Klassen 3 und 4. Poster for the workshop "Immersionserleben und die Erweiterung von Realität am Learning Lab" of the IZfB of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen.

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

Rau-Patschke, S. and Holzapfel, M. (2022, September). Mixing - puzzling - separating: Creativity through movement? Poster at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Aachen.

Holzapfel, M. & Brückmann, M. (2022, March). Creativity and creative potential in science education. Poster at the 31st annual conference of the Gesellschaft für Didaktik des Sachunterrichtes (GDSU), Cologne (online).

Holzapfel, M. (2019, September). Effectiveness test of a humour training. Poster at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Vienna.

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

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2018, March). The use of humour in health education to shape transition. Poster at the 27th annual conference of the Gesellschaft für Didaktik des Sachunterrichtes (GDSU), Dresden. (3rd prize in the poster competition)

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

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

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2016, September). Subject-specific humour on the topic of sun protection in the transition from primary to lower secondary school. Poster at the annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP), Zurich.

Holzapfel, M., Stachelscheid, K. & Walpuski, M. (2016, May). Effectiveness of self-learning material with subject-specific humour on the topic of sun protection in the transition from primary to lower secondary level. Poster for the opening workshop of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Research (IZfB), Essen.

Workshops

Holzapfel, M. A., Sealfon, C. D., Natalizio, B. J., & Holmes, R. (2024, June). 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. (2023, June). 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. (2022, September). KreaSach Pro. Contribution to the workshop "Inspiring enthusiasm for Computing Science - from childhood to Abitur (Computing Science-Begeisterung 2022)" at INFORMATIK 2022, Hamburg.

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

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

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

Memberships

Society for Didactics of Science Education (GDSU)

Society for Didactics of Chemistry and Physics (GDCP)

Committees

Commission for Teacher Education (CvO University of Oldenburg, 10/2021 to 03/2023)

Council for Teaching (CvO University of Oldenburg, representing School 1, 10/2021 to 03/2023)

Digitalisation Working Group (CvO University of Oldenburg, representative of School 1, 04/2023 to present)