08.00-09.00 UK 

Presenter: Sam Perry, University of Southampton

Excel proficiency is a critical yet often overlooked skill in undergraduate science education, with many students lacking confidence in performing essential data handling and analysis tasks. To address this skills gap, we developed an Excel-based escape room that integrates gamified learning with structured skill development. The escape room is built entirely within Excel, using conditional formatting and password-protected sheets to create a self-contained, interactive learning experience.

This escape-sheet was originally designed to support first year undergraduate chemistry students with little or no previous Excel experience. The experience is self-contained, with each sheet containing hints, tips and tricks so that it can be solved without needing external information. Since the mandate was for chemistry students, questions are posed in a scientific context, although little scientific understanding is required to solve the majority of puzzles.

The Excel Escape Sheet is freely available to download and use. The Excel workbook will guide participants through a series of password locked sheets, that serve as rooms in the escape room. Completion of an Excel-related task, such as performing a calculation or plotting a graph, will reveal a hidden password to unlock the following sheet. Make your way to the final sheet to escape the workbook!