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 2021
Faculty Team
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. 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.
Ryan Korn
Ryan connects the SpaceEscape Team to secondary school partners through the College in the High School, Dual Enrollment, Early College and Enrichment Programs. This connection allows high school students to engage in STEM-related curriculum and internships working on purposeful vide game research. Additionally, the students in the middle schools are provided the opportunity to test the game, further enhancing the research conducted by Harrisburg University Faculty, graduate, and undergraduate and high school students.
Undergraduate Students
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.
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!
Sayed Sayed
Sayed studies Information Technology and Cyber Security. He assisted in the development of the project as part of his Project I.
Samuel Dinner
Sam’s interests include music, reading and programming. He has 8 years of self-taught experience programming in web development and Unity. He would like to go on to work with users to improve the software he works on.
Conner Sweeney
Conner’s hobbies include cooking/baking, exercising, and foraging. When he is at home, he binges animated shows and enjoys semi-competitive FPS games on his PC. He hopes to start his own Indie studio with the experience he gained at HU and his self-taught art skills to create compelling games with visual and mechanical flare.
SpacEscape Team 2020
Faculty Team
Dr. Sa Liu, Assistant Professor, Interactive Media, Harrisburg University
Prof. Mina Gabriel, Lecturer, Computer & Information Science, Harrisburg University
Prof. Brian Grey, Lecturer, Computer & Information Science, Harrisburg University
Undergraduate Students
Mickey Lam, Game Design Intern, Interactive Media, Harrisburg University
Jesse Garner, Game Development Intern, Computer & Information Science, Harrisburg University
Sayed Sayed, Game Development Intern, Computer & Information Science, Harrisburg University
High School Students
Dean Maxwell, Web Design Intern, Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School
Isaiah D.Bretz, Web Design Intern, Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School
Samuel Dinner, Game Development Intern, Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School
William Hoover, Research Intern, Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School
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.
