Students found themselves on a code-cracking race against time at Loughborough College when Enigma transformed their lesson into a top secret mission.
With a revelation from Bletchley Park that a double agent had stolen vital documents, valuable minutes ticked away as teams faced a series of complex puzzles to release them from a locked room in the innovative experience, devised by the College’s e-Learning team.
“We created Enigma using the dynamics of gaming – with a story, in this case a mystery, and a challenge – as an exciting way to boost English, Maths and digital skills.
“But actually by the time you have worked your way through the seven tasks to escape and make it to the debrief location you have demonstrated 120 skills.
“We introduced it to staff and it was such a massive hit that they asked us to take it directly to the students,” said Rachel Challen, who heads the e-Learning team at Loughborough College.
“From the moment the secret agent appeared on the screen to deliver the mission our students were hooked,” added Tim Turner, Public Services lead at the College.
“Using important historical background, this fed perfectly into the security element of our course and really stretched a whole host of skills the students would need for a career in that field.
“It gave everyone the opportunity to play to their individual strengths but also to come together effectively as teams. It was fantastic to see the students get so much from 90 minutes – and have such a great time.”
“The Public Services students taking part in the experience were really inspired and engaged,” said James Blackburn, a senior learning technologist from the e-Learning team.
“It’s really exciting to see the students using these innovative teaching styles and I know there will be many more exciting ideas making their way to the classroom very soon.”