A Scalable, Modular Architecture Enabling Digital Teacher-Defined Mobile Escape Rooms

Authors

  • Fabian Wagner University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien
  • Miran Jank University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien
  • Markus Petz University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien
  • Jürgen Konrad University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34190/ecgbl.20.2.5408

Keywords:

digital escape rooms, STEM education, game-based learning, mobile mini-games, modular architecture

Abstract

Educational escape rooms offer promising opportunities for increasing engagement and active learning in STEM education, but existing solutions are often based on predefined scenarios and provide limited flexibility for adaptation to different learning objectives and classroom contexts. This paper presents DIETER (DIgital EducaTional Escape Room), a modular framework that enables teachers to create customized mobile escape room experiences by combining reusable digital mini-games and external learning activities. The framework aims to shift scenario configuration from developers to educators, allowing learning activities to be adapted to different classroom settings and difficulty levels. This work-in-progress paper introduces the underlying concept and architecture of DIETER and outlines its planned evaluation with teachers and students. The evaluation will investigate the framework’s usability, acceptance, learner engagement, and pedagogical potential in classroom contexts. By supporting teacher-defined and reusable escape room configurations, DIETER aims to provide a flexible and scalable approach to game-based learning in STEM education.

Author Biographies

Fabian Wagner, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien

Fabian Wagner is a researcher and lecturer at Technikum Wien, Austria. He received his MSc from FH Salzburg in 2019. Originally from Salzburg, he is involved in teaching and applied research in the fields of interactive media and emerging technologies. His main areas of expertise include mixed reality, virtual reality, augmented reality, and gaming, with a particular focus on the design and development of immersive and interactive applications.

Miran Jank, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien

Miran Jank is a lecturer and researcher at UAS Technikum Wien, Austria. He received his Bachelor of Science in Media Informatics from TU Vienna, Austria, in 2023 and is currently pursuing his MSc in Media and Human-Centered Computing there. While his professional work at FHTW focuses on extended reality and game development, his academic research centers on developing guidelines and best practices for cross-platform development, as well as evaluation the benefits of cross-reality gaming.

Markus Petz, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien

Markus Petz is a researcher and lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Austria. He earned his MSc there in 2016 and works in teaching and applied research on interactive media, software development, and emerging technologies. His interests include game design, education, computer science, and AI in games.

Jürgen Konrad, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien

Jürgen Konrad is a lecturer and researcher at UAS Technikum Wien, Austria. He received his Master of Science in Engineering (Game Engineering & Simulation) from UAS Technikum Wien, Austria, in 2014 and is currently pursuing his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UTAD, Portugal. His work focuses on the design and development of educational serious games, with a particular emphasis on game design methodologies, motivation, and learning in interactive systems.

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Published

2026-09-28

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2026): The Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Games Based Learning

Section

Work in Progress