The rapidly evolving field of learning technologies continues to offer new and innovative approaches for promoting student engagement and facilitating knowledge acquisition. One such approach is the use of educational escape rooms (EERs), which have become increasingly popular in recent years. Despite the potential benefits of EERs, there is a growing need for research that examines their effectiveness and identifies best practices for their design and implementation.
Dr. Panagiotis Fotaris is currently leading a special issue on the use of educational escape rooms (EERs) in the Electronic Journal of e-Learning (EJEL), with a deadline of 28 July 2023. This follows Panagiotis’s active interest and leadership in the area of Game-based Learning. He chaired the 14th and 15th European Conference on Games-Based Learning (ECGBL 2020, ECGBL2021) and the 21st European Conference on e-Learning (ECEL 2022). He has also organised and facilitated several workshops about EERs in Germany, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, etc., and he is currently researching the use of generative-AI tools for the design of EERs.

With this special issue, Panagiotis aims to explore the following themes:

  • The effectiveness of EERs as learning and collaborative tools.
  • Best practices for designing and implementing EERs.
  • The role of narrative, gameplay, and other immersive elements in EERs.
  • The use of EERs in different educational contexts (e.g., K-12, higher education, professional development, corporate training).
  • The development and evaluation of design frameworks for EERs.
  • The use of technology (e.g., virtual and augmented reality) in enhancing the EER experience.
  • The challenges and limitations of using EERs as learning tools.
  • The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in designing and implementing EERs.
  • The impact of EERs on student motivation and engagement.
  • The relationship between EERs and other forms of game-based learning.
  • The role of cultural and social factors in the design and implementation of EERs.
  • The development and evaluation of assessment tools for measuring the impact of EERs on learning outcomes.
  • The ethical considerations of using EERs in educational settings.
  • The exploration of the potential for EERs to support diversity and inclusion in education.
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