Location
West Lafayette, Indiana
DOI
10.5703/1288284316855
Keywords
K-12 Education; Educational Games; Problem Solving; Spatial Reasoning; Escape Room
Abstract
This paper describes the process of developing, piloting, and evaluating an educational and entertaining "escape room" style game for fifth grade students. The goal of this educational game is to supplement review of coursework and improve problem solving and spatial reasoning skills. The authors targeted problem solving and spatial reasoning skills because even college level students struggle with these skills, and students who have stronger abilities in these areas perform better across a variety of STEM courses. By allowing students the ability to practice and develop problem solving and spatial reasoning skills at an early age, the authors anticipate participating students will improve their confidence in utilizing these skills that are essential in scientific and technical fields [1] as well as increase their likelihood of pursuing a STEM career. Targeted surveys at pre- and post-game will be used to assess these areas from the participating students as well as their teachers' perspectives. Additionally, student performance on problems requiring employment of these skills will be measured pre- and postgame.
Designing an Escape Room Game to Develop Problem Solving and Spatial Reasoning Skills
West Lafayette, Indiana
This paper describes the process of developing, piloting, and evaluating an educational and entertaining "escape room" style game for fifth grade students. The goal of this educational game is to supplement review of coursework and improve problem solving and spatial reasoning skills. The authors targeted problem solving and spatial reasoning skills because even college level students struggle with these skills, and students who have stronger abilities in these areas perform better across a variety of STEM courses. By allowing students the ability to practice and develop problem solving and spatial reasoning skills at an early age, the authors anticipate participating students will improve their confidence in utilizing these skills that are essential in scientific and technical fields [1] as well as increase their likelihood of pursuing a STEM career. Targeted surveys at pre- and post-game will be used to assess these areas from the participating students as well as their teachers' perspectives. Additionally, student performance on problems requiring employment of these skills will be measured pre- and postgame.
