What is EuroQuest?
EuroQuest is a European Erasmus+ project that helps secondary schools teach sustainability in a more engaging, interactive, and meaningful way. The project introduces an innovative educational approach based on Educational Tabletop Escape Rooms (ETERs), collaborative tabletop games where students solve challenges, uncover clues, and work together to complete missions connected to real-world sustainability topics.
Instead of learning only through traditional lectures, students actively participate in problem-solving experiences that combine storytelling, teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking. Through these activities, they explore important themes such as environmental sustainability, climate change, inclusion, cultural heritage, STEM, and social responsibility.
The project runs from September 2024 to August 2027 and is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
Why EuroQuest?
Schools across Europe are increasingly encouraged to integrate sustainability education into everyday teaching. However, many teachers face important challenges:
- sustainability can be difficult to explain through traditional teaching methods;
- students often struggle to stay engaged with theoretical lessons;
- teachers need innovative methodologies that encourage active participation and collaboration.
EuroQuest was created to respond to these needs by combining Game-Based Learning (GBL) with sustainability education. The project believes that students learn more effectively when they are emotionally involved, actively engaged, and challenged to collaborate with others.
Educational Tabletop Escape Rooms make this possible by transforming learning into an immersive experience where students learn by doing.
What are Educational Tabletop Escape Rooms (ETERs)?
ETERs are educational escape-room-style games designed to be played directly in the classroom, around a table, in small groups.
Unlike traditional escape rooms, ETERs:
- do not require a special physical room;
- can be easily used in normal classrooms;
- allow several groups of students to play simultaneously;
- are flexible and adaptable to different school subjects.
Each ETER includes:
- a narrative or mission;
- puzzles and challenges;
- teamwork-based activities;
- educational objectives connected to curricular topics.
Students work together to solve problems, interpret clues, and complete tasks while learning key concepts related to sustainability and other subjects.
The methodology combines:
- learning through play;
- collaborative problem-solving;
- storytelling;
- hands-on activities;
- critical and creative thinking.
Project Objectives
EuroQuest aims to:
- train teachers in the use of innovative Game-Based Learning methodologies;
- develop practical tools that schools can immediately use in the classroom;
- improve sustainability education in secondary schools;
- increase student motivation and participation;
- evaluate the educational impact of ETERs through scientific research.
More specifically, the project will:
- train at least 48 teachers;
- involve more than 1,600 students;
- create a multilingual MOOC (online course) on ETER design and implementation;
- produce a practical digital handbook for teachers;
- develop five Educational Tabletop Escape Rooms focused on sustainability and other educational themes;
- conduct a comparative research study on the effectiveness of ETERs compared to traditional teaching methods.