Using Escape Rooms to Apply Team Building and Leadership Skills in an Engineering Leadership Development Program: A Work in Progress

Abstract

Performing under pressure is common in engineering. Many engineers work in fields with pressing deadlines, on projects where millions or even billions of dollars, public safety, or the lives of the end user of their designs are at stake. Engineering and computer science-based professions account for just under 6% the 800+ high-stress professions reported by ONET [1]. Helping students to develop strategies for performing on teams effectively in stressful situations is essential for their successful goal achievement, productivity and team performance in their future engineering careers [2], [3]. This EL work in progress design paper will introduce a model for a non-traditional engineering leadership development activity. Specifically, this paper will explore the incorporation of a simulated stressful situation (escape room) paired with the introduction of psychometric/behavioral profiling, curated reflective activities, and placement of the event in a scaffolded series of workshops. Through pre-and post-survey evaluations and evaluation of the post-activity reflection exercise, the change in students' attitudes towards teamwork, self-perception of their role on teams, their perceptions of the importance of clear communication with teammates and their comfort level of effectively working on teams will be examined.The Chevron Leadership Academy at Louisiana State University is a corporate-sponsored, extracurricular leadership program. As part of this program, students attend a series of workshops covering a variety of leadership development topics. One is a game-based, team-building eventparticipation in an award-winning escape room activity, 13 th Gate Escape in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The goals of this activity are to help the students apply strategy skills to improve teamwork, to learn how to thrive as a team in a high-pressure situations, and to increase their confidence in their own leadership skills. Recognizing the importance of connecting activities to reflection [4] - [7], this paper offers a preliminary examination of how psychometric and behavioral profiling [8] can be combined with reflective writing and speaking exercises [9] -[11], pre-and post-Likert-based self-and activity assessments, and organization of the activity in a scaffolded sequence of events [12], [13], to lead to an impactful leadership development experience.Preliminary evaluation of students' responses showed changes in several areas, such as their confidence with assuming leadership roles. Although sharing the results of the reflection was not required, communications with the students after the exercise revealed periods of participant frustration that were mitigated by the group discussions prior to entering the escape rooms. By the end of the escape room activity and its associated self-assessment activities, many students learned the value of strategizing before the event and clearly communicating to groupmates before entering a potentially high-stress situation. Considering the relative abundance of escape rooms that have opened ac...