Designing Educational Escape Rooms with Generative AI: A Framework and ChatGPT Prompt Engineering Guide

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds the transformative potential to reshape education, particularly in the domain of content creation. One promising application lies in the development of educational escape rooms (EERs) which are increasingly adopted to foster active, experiential learning, critical thinking, and collaboration. Nevertheless, crafting effective EERs tailored to specific learning contexts often poses a daunting and time-consuming challenge. This paper explores the dynamic synergy between Room2Educ8, a framework rooted in Design Thinking principles, and the publicly accessible AI tool ChatGPT. Room2Educ8 provides a structured methodology encompassing vital steps like empathising with learners, defining learning objectives, weaving narratives, devising puzzles, briefing and debriefing participants, prototyping, and evaluating the EER experience. Complementing this framework, the paper presents a collection of sample prompts that illustrate ChatGPT's pivotal role within the EER creation process. By offering innovative ideas, suggestions, and content, these prompts not only expedite ideation and concept development but also simplify prototype creation for testing and refinement. This streamlining process reduces cognitive load, freeing educators to focus on higher-level considerations. The primary contribution of this paper lies in its harmonious fusion of ChatGPT with a structured design framework, effectively demystifying the EER creation process. With its practical guidance, including a prompt engineering guide, it extends the accessibility of EER design to a wide spectrum of educators, encompassing those with limited prior exposure to the intricacies of escape room formats. Beyond its immediate benefits, this paper serves as a gateway to future research prospects within the domain of AI-powered educational experiences, marking a step towards realising the potential of AI in the field of game-based learning.