The use of Escape Rooms to promote collaboration in English Language Learning among seventh graders

Authors

  • Priscilla Bucciarelli Mena Estudiante
  • Evelyn Almeida

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29166/kronos.v5i2.7392

Keywords:

Escape Rooms, collaborative learning, English language, middle school, EFL, Ecuador

Abstract

The present study attempts to establish the effectiveness of escape rooms in achieving an improvement in English language learning among seventh grade students. The study further explores how escape rooms can be used to increase cooperation among students in the language learning process as well as their level of participation. The action research study was conducted from a qualitative approach, benefiting from diagnostic testing, student surveys, an initiative composed of several escape room activities, teacher observation, and final reflection. The results showed that first and foremost, escape rooms have great potential and would act as a means of fostering the pedagogical process by stoking interest and motivation among students as they focus more on communication in the target language than on formal instruction. Escape rooms promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, but also the actual practice of English, something that is sometimes difficult to achieve in a formal learning environment. The results of the study inform the need to add techniques to foster motivation and collaboration among students. In this way, the use of escape rooms is a great example of techniques that can boost not only cooperation and motivation among students but also significantly improve English language learning, as they must use it to decipher clues and com municate among peers. Furthermore, by carefully considering the various learning styles in the classroom, teachers can design enjoyable and appropriate activities for students' needs and pedagogical goals, overcoming such barriers-

Downloads

Author Biography

Evelyn Almeida

Universidad Central del Ecuador - Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE - Ecuador

References

Almeida, E. (2022). EFL teachers’ understandings of the role of assessment in second lan

guage learning. https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1162&

context=educ_llss_etds

Association of College & Research Libraries. (2023). Obtenido de

acrl/ standards

https://www.ala.org/

Avison, D. (1999). The Acm Digital Library. Retrieved from https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHt

ml/10.1145/291469.291479

Dornyei, Z. (2001). Motivational Strategies in the Language Classroom. Cambridge Cambridge

University Press. - References - Scientific Research Publishing. (n.d.). Retrieved October

, 2024 from https://www.scirp.org/reference/ReferencesPapers

Elbæk, L. (2019). ECGBL 2019 13th European Conference on Game-Based Learning. Den

mark.

Figueroa, M., Sánchez, J. F. F., & Pérez, V. M. (2021, June 24). (pdf) Escape Room As A

Motivating Tool In The English Literature Classroom At Tertiary Education. Retrieved

October 14, 2024 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367894699_

Escape_Room_As_A_Motivating_Tool_In_The_English_Literature_Classroom_At_

Tertiary_Education

Fleming, N. (2001). Teaching and Learning Styles: VARK Strategies. Neil D. Fleming.

https://books.google.co.id/books?id=K04uyQEACAAJ

Gardner, H., Komhaber, M., y Wake, W. (1996). Intelligence: Multiple

Perspectives. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace.

Heredia, M. (2024). The use of digital escape rooms for vocabulary acquisition in the

EFL classroom.

Jenkins, H., Clinton, K., Purushotma, R., Robison, A. J., & Weigel, M. (n.d.). Confronting

the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century.

Johnson, D. W. (2013, January 01). (PDF) Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2013). The im

pact of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic learning environments on achievement. In

J. Hattie & E. Anderman (Eds.), International handbook of student achievement (372-374).

New York: Routledge. Retrieved October 14, 2024 from https://www.researchgate.net/

publication/260596923_Johnson_D_W_Johnson_R_T_2013_The_impact_of_coop

erative_competitive_and_individualistic_learning_environments_on_achievement_

In_J_Hattie_E_Anderman_Eds_International_handbook_of_student_achievement_372

Kolb, A., & Kolb, D. A. (2012). Kolb’s Learning Styles. In N. M. Seel (Ed.), Encyclopedia of

the Sciences of Learning (pp. 1698–1703). Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978

-4419-1428-6_228

Lathwesen, C., & Belova, N. (2021). Escape Rooms in STEM Teaching and Learning—

Prospective Field or Declining Trend? A Literature Review. Education Sciences,

(6), Article 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11060308 Miller, C. L. (2021). Es

cape Rooms. https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/gamebasedlearning/chapter/escape-rooms/

Lineamientos-pedagogicos-Sierra-Oriente-2024-2025 .pdf. (n.d.). [PDF]. http://chrome-ex

tension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://educacion.gob.ec/wp-content/up

loads/downloads/2024/04/Lineamientos-pedagogicos-Sierra-Oriente-2024-2025.pdf

López, A. G. (n.d.). The use of escape rooms to teach and learn English at university - Di

alnet. Dialnet. Retrieved October 14, 2024 from https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/

articulo

Moula, E. E., & Malafantis, K. D. (2020). Save Odysseus: An Escape Room as a Content

Gamification Activity for Enhancing Collaboration and Resilience in the School Con

text. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(2), 1–16. https://doi.

org/10.26803/ijhss.12.2.1

Nunan, D. (1992). Collaborative language learning and teaching.

Oblinger, D. (n.d.). Simulations, Games, and Learning.

Piaget. (1952). In Piaget, Multiple Intelligences (p. 279).

Quichimbo Pesantez, S. K. (2023). Diseño y creación de un escape room como recurso

didáctico para la enseñanza de la geometría en EGB Superior. UCuenca.

Rad, H. S. (2024). Investigating the effectiveness of digital escape rooms in enhancing L2

learners’ vocabulary achievement, retention, and learning motivation.

Yuri Albert, Victor Skersis, Andrey Filippov. Show And Tell. Artist and His Model. (n.d.).

Stella Art Foundation. Retrieved October 14, 2024 from https://en.safmuseum.org/

books/cupid-show-and-tell.html

Published

2025-01-31

How to Cite

Bucciarelli Mena, P., & Almeida, E. (2025). The use of Escape Rooms to promote collaboration in English Language Learning among seventh graders. Kronos – The Language Teaching Journal, 5(2), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.29166/kronos.v5i2.7392