An educational escape room (EER) is a type of game-based learning where players interact with disciplinary content and/or skills to solve different kinds of puzzle tasks. The tasks are typically linear (meaning one leads to another) and have a specific learning goal that players meet within a time limit (usually 45 minutes to one hour). Tasks and clues are often hidden in boxes with numeric, alphabetic, or pictorial locks on them. In EERs, players are immersed in a simulated situation that they must somehow resolve. An EER is simply another innovative medium for teaching and learning and the goal is supporting students in meeting the learning objectives through a game-based design.

Since EERs are educational tools, we prioritize accessibility and ensure that learning and fun go hand in hand. For example, if you feel that a time limit is overwhelming, and it is not part of the educational objectives of the game, we will not use one! 

Currently, WOU has two physical EERs, which are located in:

• Maaske Hall 110
• Hamersly Library 218

1. In-person/Hybrid.

   Your in-person/hybrid escape adventure will unfold in either Maaske Hall 110 (Mondays) or Library 218 (Fridays); however, if in groups, members of your team can also join you on Zoom in a hybrid (with both in-person and remote players) mode, which means at least one person must be in the room. In-person games can be played both individually (1 player) or in groups (2-5 players). It is also possible, by arrangement, to host larger groups (up to 8 players) in the Maaske Hall game room.

    

2. Digital/virtual.

   We also offer digital/virtual EER escape games (Courtesy of Breakout Edu.) through our Canvas course. Accessing the course does not require any sign-ups, but if you’re interested in participating in the discussions, you need to self-enroll in the course using this form. Join in! ✨??

Anyone with a WOU connection can sign up and play. Whether you are a student, faculty, or staff member, you are welcome to sign up for our games and bring your friends, colleagues, peers, professors, students, and family along. You can also play solo if you prefer so.

Playing is completely free of charge, making learning through play accessible to all. Whether you play solo or in a group, be sure you (and the rest of your party, if any) submit the consent from when you sign up for a game. 

Center for Teaching and Learning facilitates the WOU escape room. If you have any questions and/or you are interested in co-developing an escape game, please feel free to reach out to us at CTL@wou.edu. We also maintain a Canvas course where we regularly post digital/virtual escape games and also collaborate on game design. Come play with us! 

Detective Flash, who has a sweet tooth and is on the trail of a notorious museum thief, is lured into and locked in a room after smelling the warm, sweet smell of freshly baked cookies, wafting out of the open doorway. There’s a timer attached to the computer in the room counting down–this is all the time Detective Flash has to open the door and catch the thief. But this is not an easy job, as the thief has filled the room with puzzles and mysteries that Detective Flash needs to solve in order to open the door.

Focus: Criminal Justice
Target Audience: All levels
Room: Maaske Hall 110

• Sign up
• Fill out the consent form

Hehehe! It’s me, the Comma Monster! Your class keeps forgetting to use commas and sometimes doesn’t put them in the right places, so I’m gonna take them and eat them! Yum yum yum! When I get your commas, your writing won’t make any sense! You won’t understand the stories you read, and no one will know what you mean when you text or email them. That means you won’t have any fun learning at all! Oh, I’ll give you one chance, though! Because I’m so nice! The only way to stop me from taking your commas is to review the four rules for comma use and solve the puzzles I’ve left for you in the classroom. Do you have a copy of the comma rules? No? I bet the teacher has one on their desk. You better hurry and find him and get started because you only have 45 minutes to solve the puzzles before it’s too late. Haha! Good luck, not really! Watch the challenge video.

Focus: Grammar
Target Audience: All levels
Room: Maaske Hall 110

• Sign up
• Fill out the consent form