Game-Based Learning in Chemistry Education

My research on chemistry escape rooms explores how game-based learning environments can promote meaningful engagement, collaboration, problem-solving, and conceptual understanding in chemistry education. This work combines chemistry content knowledge with inquiry, creativity, and student-centered pedagogies through the design and study of physical and virtual escape room activities. The projects examine how immersive educational experiences support motivation, scientific thinking, teamwork, and learning in both school and teacher professional development contexts. Special attention is given to the design principles of educational escape rooms and their adaptation to online and hybrid learning environments.

Relevant publications

  • Blonder, R., Yayon, M., Haimovich, I., Aviran, E., Adler, V., Zaychikova, Y., & Rap, S. (2026). Game-based nanoeducation: a hybrid escape room as an informal learning environment for nanoscale science [Original Research]. Frontiers in Education, Volume 11 - 2026. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1819144 
  • Yayon, M., Rap, S., & Blonder, R. (2023). Chemical escape rooms: Bridging the gap between formal and informal science learning. In J. Diamond & S. Rosenfeld (Eds.), Amplifying informal science learning: Rethinking research, design, and engagement (1 ed., pp. 189-192). Routledge. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003145387-21 
  • Haimovich, I., Yayon, M., Adler, V., Levy, H., Blonder, R., & Rap, S. (2022). “The Masked Scientist”: Designing a Virtual Chemical Escape Room. Journal of Chemical Education, 99(11), 3958–3965. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00597 
  • Yayon, M., Rap, S., Adler, V., Haimovich, I., Levy, H., & Blonder, R. (2020). Do-It-Yourself: Creating and implementing a periodic table of the elements chemical escape room. Journal of Chemical Education, 97(1), 132–136. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00660 
  • Peleg, R., Yayon, M., Katchevich, D., Moria-Shipony, M., & Blonder, R. (2019). A lab-based chemical escape room: Educational, mobile, and fun!. Journal of Chemical Education, 96(5), 955–960. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00406