At the Department of Mathematics of the Politecnico di Milano, the innovative training program “Matematica in Fuga” recently came to an end. The initiative was organized by the FDS Laboratory as part of the PNRR-Orientamento and PLS-Mathematics programs.
The project involved lower secondary school students in the design of a digital mathematical Escape Room, offering them the opportunity to explore mathematics through game design.
Throughout the program, coordinated by Domenico Brunetto and Caterina Bassi, students worked in teams, tackling all the main phases of the design process: from understanding the target audience to defining learning objectives, and from building the narrative to developing mathematical puzzles and game rules.
Particular attention was given to creating an engaging experience through the selection of themes, settings, and characters, with the aim of making mathematics accessible and stimulating for younger students. The design phase was supported by the actual implementation of the Escape Room using the MIT App Inventor platform, enabling students to acquire digital skills related to the creation and programming of interactive content.
The program was structured through a combination of in-person and online sessions, complemented by independent work, and concluded with the presentation of the projects developed by the groups.
In addition to mathematical skills, the activity fostered the development of key transversal competences, including teamwork, the ability to handle complexity, critical thinking, and effective communication.
The project is part of the FSL initiatives offered to schools by the FDS Laboratory of the Department of Mathematics, and it consisted of three meetings, alternated with independent work, for a total of 50 hours.
A special thanks to all participants!