A 3D-printed optical kit for a crime-solving educational escape room: a service-learning outreach initiative

Geometric optics constitutes a cornerstone of the physics curriculum, yet its instruction is frequently hindered by persistent misconceptions regarding light propagation, image formation, and the visual process. This study details a pedagogical intervention that integrates an educational escape room within a Service-Learning framework to mitigate these conceptual barriers. To address the scarcity of experimental resources, we designed 3D-printed structural components (including optical benches, lens holders, and an eye model) to complement commercial optical element. The activity, anchored in a forensic crime-solving narrative, was facilitated by undergraduate optics students acting as mentors for a cohort of fifteen 12th-grade students. Qualitatively, initial student sketches exposed significant gaps in their grasp of ray tracing and physiological optics. Data from a pretest–posttest design indicated a substantial improvement in conceptual understanding, with mean knowledge scores rising from 35.1% to 77.6% ( p < 0.001). Beyond student gains, undergraduate mentors reported enhanced scientific communication skills, while high school teachers emphasised the kit’s high replicability. By disseminating the open-access 3D-printing files and pedagogical guide, this project offers a sustainable and engaging model to foster STEM interest and enhance optics education.