On March 9, 2026, the Academy of Applied Sciences in Racibórz hosted an event marking the launch of the latest publication by Em. Prof. Dr. Hab. Gabriela Kapica, titled in Polish Dziecięca enigmistyka. Egzemplifikacje teorytyczne i praktyczne (Translated into English Children’s Enigmistics: Theoretical and Practical Examples). The event brought together members of the academic community, visitors outside the academy, and the author’s family.
A Professor at the University and director of the Institute of Educational Studies Dr. Ilona Gembalczyk opened and led the event. Senator Henryk Siedlaczek, as well as a professor at the university and rector of the Academy of Applied Sciences in Racibórz Dr. Paweł Strózik and a professor and vice rector for student affairs Dr. Beata Fedyn were also present during the celebration.
The event highlighted the extensive academic achievements of Prof. Gabriela Kapica, a professor emerita at the University of Opole and a former faculty member at the State Higher Vocational School in Racibórz. Prof. Kapica is the creator of a teaching concept concerning the system of solving and constructing puzzles and one of the pioneering researchers in the field of children’s puzzle studies. A special place in her body of work is held by Poland’s first monograph in the field of Rozrywki umysłowe w nauczaniu początkowym (translated into English Mental Games in Early Education) 1986, 1990.
The author’s most important publications were also mentioned during the event, including Teoria i praktyka optymalizacji edukacji elementarnej (Theory and Practice of Elementary Education Optimization) from 1995, Współczesne konteksty dzieciństwa (Contemporary Contexts of Childhood) from 2006, Edukacja do współbycia i współdziałania (Education of Coexistance and Cooperation) from 2010, Dzieciństwo czyni człowieka (Childhood Makes the Person) from 2015, and her latest book, Dziecięca enigmistyka w procesie wspierania twórczości zdolności językowych młodszych uczniów (Children’s Enigmistics in the Process of Supporting Creative Language Skills in Younger Students) from 2024.
Professor Kapica’s research interests primarily include preschool and early elementary education, the theory and practice of children’s puzzle-solving, the pedagogy of creativity and play, and issues related to the professionalization of the elementary school teaching profession.
The book launch provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of research on children’s language development and the role of puzzles and brain teasers in fostering creative thinking among the youngest students. The event served as a reflection on the author’s many years of scholarly and teaching work, as well as on the evolution of modern pedagogy.
