Escape rooms – an interactive and immersive approach to gamify learning and increase students’ motivation

Teaching and learning today are both easy and challenging. Modern educators have a wide range of tools at their disposal to create interactive educational resources, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps them generate ideas and save valuable time. The primary challenge they face is determining which tool is most suitable for the educational process and how to generate interest among learners and stimulate more activity, creativity, and motivation. The study analyzes and reviews the role of educational escape rooms as a teaching tool for enhancing students’ activity and gamifying the educational environment. Educational escape rooms can follow different scenarios and perform missions, both in real and online environments, and offer an immersive experience through augmented and virtual reality. Their application can be unlimited, as it is necessary to consider learners' ages, levels of knowledge, and the goals the teacher has set. The ability for learners themselves to invent scenarios and set tests and challenges for their peers is an innovative approach that can develop their logical and creative thinking. These skills are beneficial in teaching students studying programming and computer science, building a sustainable interest in learners, focusing their attention, and increasing their success rate, thereby strengthening their communication and collaboration. The purpose of this publication is to reveal the educational potential of escape rooms, including the benefits and challenges for learners and teachers, the platforms on which they can be implemented, and the software tools used for their development.