The Technical University of Darmstadt is opening its digital doors to prospective students. Under the title TUDa Campus Quest, a series of puzzle-based serious games is being launched that make it possible to experience the university and everyday student life in a playful way. Players move through a virtual 360° replica of the campus in the role of a student. In doing so, they embark on an immersive gaming experience that focuses on learning and discovery at the TU.

Mission Metallgedächtnis: Interactive learning adventure with innovative tasks

The first game in this series, “Mission Metallgedächtnis” (Mission Metal Memory), developed in collaboration with the Institute of Materials Science, has now been released. As in real everyday university life, the first task is to find your way around the campus and find your way to the lecture hall. The curriculum includes so-called shape memory alloys. These materials can be deformed but return to their original shape at the touch of a button. In the lecture, you will learn in compact form how this strange behavior can be explained, how important it is for various areas of application such as aerospace, medical technology or smartphones and how such materials can be produced. Then it's off to the virtual lab, where the knowledge you have just learned is put to the test: When to perform which step? How should which parameter be set to achieve the desired result?

Of course, every experiment includes the preparation of a protocol: In the game, this is done in an entertaining way in the form of an interactive quiz that awaits the players in the Materials Science Learning Center. Here, the comprehensive understanding of the topic is checked again and knowledge is consolidated.

A high degree of interactivity makes the learning process dynamic and appealing. Players use the example of shape memory alloys to learn how to think and work in materials science. At the same time, they become familiar with the campus and get an idea of the processes involved in studying.

Interdisciplinary cooperation

The game was realized in close cooperation of various institutions at TU Darmstadt. Markus Weber and Felix Hoch from the e-learning working group of the Center for Educational Development and Technology (HDA) were responsible for the didactic design and technical implementation. Ruben Bischler and Dr.-Ing. Anne Kikker from the Institute of Materials Science were responsible for the content design. In this, they were supported by researchers from the Physical Metallurgy research group , Dr Enrico Bruder, Sven Frank and Leonie Frohnapfel (who also took on a speaking role). Franziska Ritter contributed the expertise of the Central Student Advisory and Orientation Office (ZSB) to the project. The game was developed as part of the joint project Future Learning Spaces (FueLS), which is dedicated to the media-didactic and media-technical conceptualization and creation of virtual teaching and learning scenarios using 360°, augmented and virtual reality technologies.

Materials science – the unknown key discipline

There are good reasons why Materials Science was chosen for the pilot project. Hardly any other discipline has such a large gap between its enormous relevance and lack of awareness. Materials Scientists, develop an in-depth understanding of material properties, their causes and how they can be influenced. This enables them to develop materials with improved or new properties. Such material innovations are the basis for future technologies, for example in the fields of energy, communication, mobility or health.

A window to the university – a window to the future

In times when digital formats are becoming increasingly important, the university is offering an innovative, target group-oriented opportunity to find out about study programs and get to know campus life at the same time. As a digital showcase, it also reflects the Darmstadt model of science communication, which aims to create a lively exchange with the public. This requires formats such as the Escape Game, which convey in a contemporary and easily accessible way how and what is researched, taught and learned at the TU.

Further parts of the “TUDa Campus Quest” series are currently in development. 360° games on mechanical engineering, civil engineering and architecture are to be published soon.