Gameful Design for Learning Through Escape Rooms in Higher Education

Megan Clune; Monica Kam; Rachelle Singleton; Tanisha Jowsey

Abstract

Conference Session Title:
Disrupting pedagogies through gamification pedagogy, game-based learning, and gameful learning: gameful design for learning through escape rooms in higher education.

Games enhance learning across all education sectors, but the variety of terms can be confusing for educators new to this field. We propose the term ‘gameful learning’ to describe learning that uses an immersive gamified experience, emphasizing intrinsic motivation for mastery. We highlight the importance of fostering learner motivation. Over the past five years, we have designed and facilitated escape rooms in various disciplines, finding them effective in promoting content knowledge and transferable skills. Our presentation will share insights and lessons learned from these projects, focusing on motivation and mastery in escape rooms.

Original language	English
Pages	1
Publication status	Unpublished - 2025
Event	ISSOTL25: Exploring the Changing Landscapes of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning - University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand Duration: 3 Nov 2025 → 6 Nov 2025 https://issotl.com/ (ISSOTL25 website)

Conference

Conference	ISSOTL25
Country/Territory	New Zealand
City	Christchurch
Period	3/11/25 → 6/11/25
Other	University of Canterbury welcomes you to ISSOTL25 in Ōtautahi Christchurch on the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Our theme, Exploring the Changing Landscapes of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, reflects the world-renowned landscapes of our South Island home. It also symbolises the upheavals, steady change, and standing landmarks that we encounter in our teaching and learning practices in tertiary education. As ISSOTL delegates come together to share their scholarship, works in progress, and innovative pedagogies, the conference theme provides a guiding framework and powerful metaphor for how we collectively engage with our own stories and accomplishments as scholars of our teaching and learning practice.
Internet address	https://issotl.com/ (ISSOTL25 website)

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Cite this

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title = "Gameful Design for Learning Through Escape Rooms in Higher Education",

abstract = "Conference Session Title: Disrupting pedagogies through gamification pedagogy, game-based learning, and gameful learning: gameful design for learning through escape rooms in higher education. Games enhance learning across all education sectors, but the variety of terms can be confusing for educators new to this field. We propose the term {\textquoteleft}gameful learning{\textquoteright} to describe learning that uses an immersive gamified experience, emphasizing intrinsic motivation for mastery. We highlight the importance of fostering learner motivation. Over the past five years, we have designed and facilitated escape rooms in various disciplines, finding them effective in promoting content knowledge and transferable skills. Our presentation will share insights and lessons learned from these projects, focusing on motivation and mastery in escape rooms.",

author = "Megan Clune and Monica Kam and Rachelle Singleton and Tanisha Jowsey",

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T1 - Gameful Design for Learning Through Escape Rooms in Higher Education

AU - Clune, Megan

AU - Kam, Monica

AU - Singleton, Rachelle

AU - Jowsey, Tanisha

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Conference Session Title: Disrupting pedagogies through gamification pedagogy, game-based learning, and gameful learning: gameful design for learning through escape rooms in higher education. Games enhance learning across all education sectors, but the variety of terms can be confusing for educators new to this field. We propose the term ‘gameful learning’ to describe learning that uses an immersive gamified experience, emphasizing intrinsic motivation for mastery. We highlight the importance of fostering learner motivation. Over the past five years, we have designed and facilitated escape rooms in various disciplines, finding them effective in promoting content knowledge and transferable skills. Our presentation will share insights and lessons learned from these projects, focusing on motivation and mastery in escape rooms.

AB - Conference Session Title: Disrupting pedagogies through gamification pedagogy, game-based learning, and gameful learning: gameful design for learning through escape rooms in higher education. Games enhance learning across all education sectors, but the variety of terms can be confusing for educators new to this field. We propose the term ‘gameful learning’ to describe learning that uses an immersive gamified experience, emphasizing intrinsic motivation for mastery. We highlight the importance of fostering learner motivation. Over the past five years, we have designed and facilitated escape rooms in various disciplines, finding them effective in promoting content knowledge and transferable skills. Our presentation will share insights and lessons learned from these projects, focusing on motivation and mastery in escape rooms.

M3 - Abstract

SP - 1

T2 - ISSOTL25

Y2 - 3 November 2025 through 6 November 2025

ER -

Gameful Design for Learning Through Escape Rooms in Higher Education

Abstract

Conference

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