The Quest for Learning

Pedagogical and Interaction Design Perspectives on Quest Rooms

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34190/ecgbl.19.2.4035

Keywords:

Educational Escape Rooms, Playification, Embodied Learning, Interactive Storytelling, Research through Design

Abstract

Educational Escape rooms (EERs) foster learning engagement, but have been criticized for promoting extrinsic motivation and shallow learning by overemphasizing game elements. To address this, it is essential to better align game mechanics with desired learning outcomes and consider the relationship between EER interaction design and pedagogical theories. This work combines educational and interaction design methods to improve escape rooms as a pedagogical format. We introduce an escape room design approach here named the quest room, adapted for informal learning at museums. Using a Research-through-Design methodology, we present three digiphysical quest rooms developed and implemented at museums. Further, we propose an edu-interaction framework that combines five lenses of analysis: playification, embodied aspects, sociality, game mechanics, and interactive storytelling, to analyse the quest room exemplars. The study offers insights for designing and evaluating future EERs.

Author Biographies

Karin Johansson, Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University, Sweden

Karin is a researcher in HCI, a professional designer, a nerd and an educator. Her focus is on playful engagement to pursue values such as heritage awareness and democracy. Utilizing Research through Design, she co-designs digiphysical playgrounds, interactive storytelling experiences and edu-escape rooms, together with municipalities, museums and NGOs.

Jakob Bandelin, Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University, Sweden

Jakob Bandelin is a PhD student in Information Systems at Uppsala University. He holds an MSc in Cognitive Science and has over fifteen years of experience teaching in higher education. His research focuses on IT-enhanced, gamified learning environments, particularly educational escape rooms and digital-physical activities.

Jon Back, Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University, Sweden

Jon Back is Associate Professor in Human-Computer Interaction at Uppsala University, researching technology-enhanced playful design in public settings. He is proud to present himself as both researcher and a practicing designer. He's created interactive playgrounds, museum exhibitions and escape rooms, as well as board-games and card games.

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Published

2025-09-26

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 2 (2025): The Proceedings of the 19th European Conference on Games Based Learning

Section

Late Submissions