German studies professor at Purdue Fort Wayne plans visit to North Side High School to show off games he created

As a Purdue University Fort Wayne professor of German studies, Lee Roberts focuses on making his classes as interesting as possible for his students. His latest effort makes them enjoyable as well.

Roberts has created games that help students practice their abilities, using German words. He recently turned to Spukhaus and Wortschatzwettrennen during a demonstration for students, staff, and faculty in the Department of International Language and Culture Studies lab. In German, Spukhaus means spook house, and Wortschatzwettrennen means vocabulary race.

The spectators that day included North Side High School German teacher and PFW alumnus Aaron Stanley who ordered the games to share with his class. The students have been practicing with the games for a month and will give a demonstration on Feb. 28 from 11 to 11:50 a.m. at North Side. Media members wishing to observe the session can meet in the North Side lobby starting at 10:45 a.m. Scott Murray, Fort Wayne Community Schools communications manager, will be on hand to provide directions to the classroom.

Roberts, who has taught at PFW since 2005, has created two other games—and uses both in class—but Spukhaus and Wortschatzwettrennen are his first self-published games through a company called The Game Crafter.

Maybe the best review came from PFW student Matt Stowe, who after playing Spukhaus said, “I thought the game was not only beneficial in its ability to help German [language] students formulate sentences and speak the language, but also was truly an enjoyable experience. Es ist wunderbar!”

For additional information, contact Blake Sebring at [email protected] or 260-385-0092 (mobile).