SpacEscape
SpacEscape is a problem-solving mobile game created by students and faculty at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. The game provides middle school students an opportunity to learn about space science while practicing their problem-solving skills.
SpacEscape Download
Input the user ID your teacher provided you and or apply for a user ID.
Research
2019 – 2020
In collaboration with Mechanicsburg school district, American Literacy Corporation, the SpaceEscape team is working on improving the Android app and conducted testing.
2018 – 2019
In collaboration with Lower Dauphin school district, American Literacy Corporation, and SciTech High School, the SpaceEscape team created the Android app and conducted testing and research. 269 middle school students participated in the study. Paired Sample T-test on student science pre- and post- test scores showed significant improvement during the Phase I study (t = 11.025, p < 0.0005). Specifically, the average science knowledge test score improved nearly 16 points (PreTest = 43.20; PostTest = 59.04; on a scale of 100).
SpacEscape Team 2020
Dr. Sa Liu
Dr. Liu’s research interests include educational uses of emerging technologies, learning analytics and interactive media design and development. She is currently an editorial review board member for Journal of Online Learning Research and editorial board member for International Journal on E-Learning.
Prof. Mina Gabriel
Prof. Mina’s main area of interest is data structures, computer algorithms, machine learning and database systems. He has 10 years of experience as a full stack software developer and 4 years of academic experience.
Prof. Brian Grey
Prof. Grey teaches computer science and simulation design concepts within the undergraduate and graduate CISC program. His academic interests involve artificial intelligence, cognitive science, software engineering, and serious games. He has spent over 12 years in industry as an application and web developer.
Jesse Garner
Jesse is from Harrisburg and studying CyberSecurity. Jesse is excited to be on the team because he believes it will increase his knowledge and versatility of software development by taking on new challenges. He also likes playing Rocket League!
Mickey Lam
Mickey works as part of the game design team for the project. Her hobbies include doodling and viewing animations. She hopes to pursue animating and designing for shows or games in the future.
Sayed Sayed
Harrisburg University. Sayed studies Information Technology and Cyber Security. He assisted in the development of the project as part of his Project I.
Dean Maxwell
Dean’s interests are music, coding, and traveling the world. Dean will be studying cyber security at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Isaiah D. Bretz
Isaiah’s hobbies are making music, playing video games, designing websites and 3D modeling. Isaiah has competed in a TSA event for game design receiving 3rd place. He plans to attend Harrisburg university for interactive media design in the year 2020-2021.
Samuel Dinner
Sam’s hobbies include listening to music, reading and programming. He has helped out in tech crew for his school’s musical for 4 years. He has 7 years of self-taught experience with programming.
William Hoover
William plays football and basketball. He is a part of a church league basketball team and the MASH mini thon committee. He also volunteers for the special Olympics. He loves to problem solve, whether it be through a calculus problem or a physics problem.
SpacEscape Team 2019
Faculty Team
Dr. Sa Liu, Assistant Professor, Interactive Media, Harrisburg University.
Prof. Mina Gabriel, Lecturer, Computer & Information Science, Harrisburg University.
Master Students
Shane Jeffers, Research Intern, Learning Technologies, Harrisburg University.
Undergraduate Students
Emili Ochoa, Game Design Intern, Interactive Media, Harrisburg University.
Paulette Levy, Game Design Intern, Interactive Media, Harrisburg University.
Tyler Brubaker, Game Development Intern, Computer & Information Science, Harrisburg University
Dustin Morin, Game Development Intern, Computer & Information Science, Harrisburg University
High School Students
Mickey Lam, Graphic Design Intern, SciTech High School.
Daniel Little, Game Design Intern, Lower Dauphin High School.
Robert Bray, Game Development Intern, Lower Dauphin High School.
Ryan Hsing-Smith, Game Development Intern, Lower Dauphin High School.
Contact
If you are a community partner interested in using games for improving learning, or a potential student interested in working in our team or meeting with members of our research team, please contact us at SpacEscape@harrisburgu.edu.
Undergraduate Student Opportunities
- Project I: Android App Design, Game Design, Web Design, Music Design, Research
- Project II: Android App Development, Game Development, Web Development
- Internships: All the above!
It might also give you insight into your own interests and looks great on a resume for job hunting or graduate school in web design/development, game design/development, mobile computing, serious games and related fields. Additionally, as an undergraduate intern in the SpacEscape team, you can receive course credit through Project I, Project II or even Internships. Undergraduate are asked to dedicate 5 -10 hours weekly to the team for the course of one semester.
High School Student Opportunities
- Design Interns: App Design, Game Design, Web Design, Music Design
- Research Interns
- Development Interns: App Development, Game Development, Web Development
Working with us can give you valuable and fun experience in creating something meaningful in a team. It might also give you insight into your own interests and looks great on a resume for college application. High school interns are asked to dedicate 3-5 hours weekly to the team for the course of one semester.
