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Ready? Set? Escape!: the effect of digital escape rooms on student motivation in asynchronous learning environments
Dissertation   Open access

Ready? Set? Escape!: the effect of digital escape rooms on student motivation in asynchronous learning environments

Samantha A. Beebe
Doctor of Health Science (D.H.Sc.), Drexel University
15 Mar 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001974
pdf
Beebe_Samantha_DHSc_20231.43 MBDownloadView

Abstract

Escape rooms Asynchronous learning Intrinsic motivation Game-based learning
Background and literature review: As the number of fully online, asynchronous course offerings increase, educators need to embrace new approaches to engage students, increase motivation, and meet learning outcomes. Game-based activities can encourage active learning and enhance student engagement. Escape rooms are useful game-based learning activities in which students detect clues, solve puzzles, and work collaboratively to "escape" the room. Past research has shown a positive relationship between intrinsic motivation and student engagement with learning content, but most research has focused on synchronous course structures. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to measure intrinsic motivation of student engagement with digital escape rooms in an asynchronous college course. Methods: This study uses a posttest-only control group study design, in which the researchers collect quantitative data after exposure to a treatment. The Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) is an activity-focused survey to measure student intrinsic motivation. Results: Student perception of intrinsic motivation for participating in the escape room activity was soundly positive on the four IMI subscales. Seventeen students participated, with 14 students consenting to the study. Conclusion: Escape rooms can be incorporated into asynchronous online classes and enhance student engagement. Future studies to replicate these results should be conducted and possibly expanded to assess for correlation with formal test scores, further dissection of intrinsic motivation, and inclusion of multiple course sections to widen the feasibility interpretation.

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