Thinking Inside the Box

This week, students were able to participate in the ultimate live Breakout EDU experience, using teamwork and critical thinking to complete a "mission", solving a series of challenging puzzles related to a recent novel study in order to open a locked box of treasure. For those not familiar with Breakout EDU, they are similar to "escape room" experiences. 

Breakout EDU games can be used in a variety of ways, including introducing a new topic or concept, strengthening learning, delving deeper into topics, or thinking critically about literature. The games provide a student-centered learning experience where students use critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication to problem-solve and own their learning, apply their understanding of new content, or even discover it. One of the best aspects of these games is that they provide students with many opportunities to fail forward.  Every unsuccessful attempt to solve a puzzle and open a lock forces the player to try again. These map-reading fans were determined to complete their mission within the allotted 45-minute timeframe. The only team to successfully break the codes did it with only about 2 minutes to spare. Regardless of whether or not each of the teams had a successful breakout, they worked hard and had fun. It was just as thrilling for us to observe as it was for students to participate - they supported one another as learners and persevered through the more difficult aspects of the challenge. Student feedback:  "Please, can we do another one soon?"  You can bet we will and next time, we'll level up! 

Special thanks to Mrs. Kosakowski, our digital literacy specialist, for putting together this special mission for our students. There will definitely be more to come!

This week's guest bloggers reflect on their first live Breakout EDU experience. Enjoy.

I'd like to give a shout-out to @writingmachine because she helped out a lot with finding out what the clues meant and she also helped us set up the map. Another shout-out goes to @Jerry'sApples who helped out with finding out a secret code that all of us had no idea how to do. In the end, we were a good team and when the clock timed out, we were only two digits away from winning! Even though we didn't break out, we did great and gave it our all.    - @FireDragon5

First, I would like to give a shout-out to @Burt for helping us put together the map and a shout-out to @TheScienceGeek for motivating us. We definitely could have done a better job collaborating. We worked kind of independently and didn't really work as a group.    - @PotatoMonitor

If I were to give advice to another class about this challenge to set them up for success, I would tell them to talk everything out with your teammates first and make sure you include everyone. Teamwork and collaboration will help you out A LOT.    - @RockHam

I would like to give a shout-out to @SoftballPiggy because she really understood me when I was asking my team something or telling them something. She would listen to me and wait until I was done talking.     - @softballgirl123

If I were to give advice to another class about this challenge, I would tell them to only send a few people to find all of the clues. Meanwhile, have others stay at the table to try and figure out the clues to the locks with what they have.   - @Jerry'sApples

Our team was pretty good at this challenge. I have a BIG shout-out to @ClintHillsGhost. He was a fantastic team member because he was pretty serious about it and he was able to find a bunch of map pieces. He was VERY helpful. Next, although he wasn't perfect, I think he tried his hardest and I appreciate that A LOT. Last, he was good at the Breakout! Not only did he find a lot of the pieces, but he was able to put them together.     - @Gamerhead41

One way my team could improve our collaboration skills is to listen more carefully to the directions and to each other. We were kind of shouting over each other and we couldn't hear what each other was saying.    - @PuppyOnline

I would like to give a shout-out to @FireDragon5, @writingmaching, and @Jerry'sApples. @FireDragon5 went as fast as he could to unlock the locks and he was super helpful finding the clues. @writingmachine helped by figuring out where the map clues went. @Jerry'sApples helped by solving the code on the paper. All in all, our team worked really well together.    - @Lebamboom

I want to give a shout-out to @BobMcPickleson for assembling the map when no one would help him because they were busy figuring out other clues. Great work, @BobMcPickleson.     - @Magician-of-ice-cream

If I were to give advice to another class about this challenge and set them up for success, I would say, "Put your thinking caps on and pack an extra thinking cap!"    - @BuffBoiz

@Daisy, a member of my team, was an amazing teammate. @Daisy cooperated with everyone no matter what and she helped us win! I learned a lot from @Daisy about how to be a good teammate.    - @booksrule

If I were to play the Breakout again, I would personally make sure that everybody's ideas are valued. I would also be tidier so that we can find the clues and put them together. Finally, I would encourage everyone to stay on the same clue together.    - @HarryPotter

I would like to give a shout-out to @sunflower because she was an awesome key master and if someone didn't understand, she was there to help. @sunflower also helped people in other groups when they didn't understand. She is an awesome leader.     - @cheerqueen

I want to give a shout-out to @DragonFire5, our kind, responsible, risk-taking key master. He was very good about getting down to business quickly (not in a bad way, but in a very good taking-charge-responsible way). He was even saying things like, "Okay guys, I think we should split up, maybe two of us look for more clues and the other two try to put together what we have so far."  Even though he was the key master, there were four people in our group and four locks to unlock so he let each of us turn a key so that we could all get the thrill of unlocking something. Great job, @DragonFire5!    - @writingmachine

My team could have been better at collaborating. Everyone was talking over each other and some people were feeling left out. Next time, we need to pay attention to what each of us is saying and to make sure that everyone feels included. Otherwise, it was fun and once we got the hang of it, we did pretty well.    - @sunflower

I have a couple of shout-outs. First, @Burt contributed to our group in a positive way. She was very good at putting the map together. Also, @ArcticFox was very good at finding clues. She figured out three clues.    - @MaisyPaisy

If I were to give advice to another class about this Breakout to set them up for success, I would tell them to think outside the box and never give up. You have to try really hard.     - @soccerpro1