An Escape Room For Learning Computer Programming

Abstract

Game-based learning is a strategy where games are used as a challenge for students to learn and apply the contents of a subject matter. In this sense, game-based learning is an instance of problem-based learning. In this paper we discuss how game based strategies can be used to motivate students to perform the actions required for each of the learning phases. Namely: motivation, information, understanding, application and validation (feed-back). Then we present the application of those strategies to the design of an escape room where computer programs are required to solve the puzzles of the game. The designed escape room is then used as a game-based strategy in an introductory seminar on the Python programming language.