Collaborative multimodal learning as a tool for diversifying input options

One of the biggest challenges of teaching environmental studies and geosciences focusing on complex problems is the lack of time that hinders the presentation of a problem through various aspects. While differentiation offers an opportunity for multiple inputs, this only allows diversification within the class, not for each student. Constructing multimodal escape rooms and scavenger hunts enable the incorporation of maps, graphs, pictures, videos, text and audios, augmented with motivating challenges, puzzles and tests which, with careful construction, can showcase a phenomenon in its complexity. While it is not entirely clear how different modalities affect motivation, moreover our research suggests that there is a gender difference in the motivational response to the modality of the instructional material, the digital escape rooms provide a paper-free opportunity for multimodal learning. The poster would showcase good practices on how to construct collaborative multimodal escape rooms on various topics including volcanology and renewable energy, and highlight the possible motivational factors among these.