Tech4Seniors: A Gamified Challenge-Based Learning Experience Integrating Design Thinking and IoT

Abstract

This paper presents Tech4Seniors, a short, intensive learning experience that engages engineering students in developing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to real-world challenges faced by senior citizens. The activity combines Design Thinking and game-based learning principles within a structured, mission-based format, with students working in teams to progress through iterative stages of problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and evaluation. A key aspect of the experience is its focus on user-centred design. Before the in-class session, students interviewed older adults and worked with UX personas representing sensory, mobility, cognitive, or security-related challenges. These insights informed the development of functional prototypes using IoT components and rapid-prototyping materials. The activity was implemented with undergraduate students in a technology-oriented course and evaluated using a mixed-methods approach, including post-activity surveys (n = 52), expert assessment of final prototypes, and qualitative reflections. Two team-formation strategies—random assignment and leader-selected teams based on prior technical experience—were also examined. Results consistently show high levels of student engagement, perceived learning, collaboration, and the development of empathy. Students reported strong alignment between identified user needs and proposed solutions, and expert evaluations confirmed the prototypes' overall quality and feasibility. No meaningful differences were observed between the two team formation strategies. These findings suggest that short, structured, and game-oriented learning experiences can effectively support both technical and human-centred skills in engineering education, particularly when grounded in real-world user contexts. The paper offers a replicable model and practical insights for designing empathy-driven, game-based learning activities.