Entrepreneurship

Results on innovative pedagogy in Higher Educational Institute

UNLOCK presents research results

2 Dec 2022 17:35 | Entrepreneurship

After three intensive years of research, UNLOCK presented their research results at the latest conference on applying educational escape rooms (EER) in higher education. Over fifty international participants participated online to gain insight into the application of game-based learning. From using gamified and challenge-based teaching approaches, the importance of a balance between the separate demands of teachers and students to practical workshops on how to use educational escape rooms.

UNLOCK presented linking researches within the research areas, such as educational escape rooms. Educational escape rooms are not commonly used in higher education. The use of EER can promote students' skills in an enjoyable way without a loss of learning objectives. “Education should be enjoyable and social, and not at the expense of requiring an effort. In other words, education is a community,” explains Dr. Richard Martina, researcher at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. “People in general learn by playing and doing challenging tasks that requiring some effort. Escape rooms should enable students to explore instead of only thinking of one solution to the game.”

Unlock presentation

Dr. Richard Martina's workshop included how teachers can use the modular escape room Stella Dolce. In this escape room, teachers can customize game elements so that the game fits the learning objectives of a subject. But also, how these game-based learning tools can contribute to develop and increase social entrepreneurship against social issues, such as migration, inequality, and climate change.

UNLOCK consists of 8 European partners: Universidade de Aveiro (project leader), FH Münster, Advancis Business Services, Bespoke ApS, Fundación General Universidad de Granada, Kaunas University of Technology, University Industry Innovation Network BV and Hogeschool van Amsterdam. The project was funded by the European grant program Erasmus+ and ran from spring 2020 to fall 2022