Supporting First-Year Chemistry Undergraduates in Data Analysis through a Gamified Excel Escape Room

Excel proficiency is a critical tool
in undergraduate
chemistry
education, yet many students lack confidence in performing essential
data handling and analysis tasks. To address student apprehension
and encourage engagement with the software, this work reports the
development of an Excel-based escape room. The activity is built entirely
within the Excel environment, utilizing conditional formatting and
password-protected sheets to create a self-contained, interactive
learning experience without the need for external software or funding.
The activity was trialed with a cohort of first-year undergraduate
chemistry students. Participants reported positive shifts in their
perception of Excel, noting increased confidence and a greater willingness
to apply the software for complex tasks following the intervention.
While direct skill acquisition requires longitudinal study, survey
data suggests that gamifying the Excel environment can effectively
lower the perceived barrier to entry for hesitant students. By embedding
skill development within an exploratory framework, this model offers
a scalable, adaptable tool for introducing digital literacy in the
chemical sciences.