Escape from traditional learning: A neuroscience escape room activity for neuroscience education

This paper provides a step-by-step guide to developing a neuroscience themed escape room. We designed the escape room based on our introductory neuroscience learning outcomes which required students to remember key concepts while working together both as a group and individually to solve six neuroscience-themed challenges. Data include time to escape, as well as the results of a post-event survey that had individual students rate the value of the activity, their own personal effort, and their perceptions of instructor contribution. We found that students enjoyed this activity and that the amount of personal effort put in by the student was correlated with how fast they solved the six challenges in our escape room. We conclude that the escape room is a low cost, high impact event that can motivate student learning of neuroscience and promote retention.