Niku Dorostkar

Niku Dorostkar is a Professor at KPH Vienna/Lower Austria, specializing in German language education (including German as a second language) across primary and secondary school levels. Their work bridges traditional didactics with digital innovation, particularly through projects like the GameLab collaboration with the University of Vienna, which explores the educational potential of video games. Dorostkar leads the Sparkling Science project SpraBiF, focusing on early language education frameworks, and contributes to critical discourse analysis in educational contexts.

• Research Priorities:
  • Game-based language and literary learning
  • Digital Game-Based Language Learning (DGBLL)
  • Early language support in elementary education
  • Language policy and multilingualism
  • Critical discourse analysis in digital spaces

Recent Publications examine the interplay of video games with literary education (e.g., Storyteller and A Juggler’s Tale), alongside studies on Austrian language policy and cognitive development in children. Dorostkar advocates for pedagogical approaches that contextualize digital media within educational theory, emphasizing Design-Based Research and Citizen Science collaborations.

Teaching includes courses at KPH Vienna/Lower Austria and the University of Vienna, with a focus on integrating digital tools into German education. The GameLab project provides hands-on experience with Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck consoles, fostering exploratory learning and didactic material development. Dorostkar also contributes to continuing education platforms like bildung.kphvie.ac.at, offering resources for teachers across Austria.