ESCape the ClassRoom

TL;DR

This paper introduces ESCape the Classroom, a web framework enabling educators to create immersive, multi-room virtual reality educational escape rooms accessible on various devices without advanced programming skills.

Contribution

It provides a user-friendly web platform for designing and deploying VR escape rooms, bridging the gap between physical and digital immersive learning experiences.

Findings

Framework supports multi-room VR escape experiences

Compatible with a wide range of VR hardware including Meta Quest 3

Enables educators to create and share VR escape rooms easily

Abstract

Educational Escape Rooms (EER's), through their use of immersive storytelling and practical application of abstract concepts, present a novel new technique for engaging learners in a variety of subjects. However, there is a significant time and materials investment required to build new physical Escape Rooms, and prior attempts to create digital escape rooms have resulted in games that lack the immersive qualities that make physical escape rooms so compelling. This paper presents ESCape the Classroom, a web framework for creating virtual reality educational escape rooms (VR EERs) that can be delivered to any web-connected device. The framework is equipped with essential tools to design and deploy intricate, multi-room VR escape experiences using HTML and Web-Components. It is designed to be used by educators with rudimentary programming skills, eliminating the need for advanced game programming or development expertise. VR EERs created with this platform can be published online as WebXR sites that are compatible with a broad spectrum of VR hardware, including the Meta Quest 3, allowing educators to share the experiences they create while bypassing the need for additional software installations on devices. This paper will present the design and implementation of ESCape the Classroom, and discuss the potential for this platform to be used in educational settings.