Game-based learning to promote student engagement: an escape room on databases

The use of game dynamics in the academic environment has proven to be highly motivating for students. This paper focuses on an Escape Room game developed in a database subject to cover several objectives: to integrate contents in a single activity, to encourage group work, to increase student engagement and to promote a playful environment for proficiency testing. The experience is evaluated by means of a survey in which students are asked about the degree of achievement of different objectives such as the improvement of learning, reflection on their own learning (metacognition) or their engagement and motivation. The analysis of the data collected reveals a high degree of acceptance of the activity among the students, so another objective of the work is to describe the implementation of the activity as well as to provide some tips that can be useful to adapt this type of game to other university subjects.