BreakoutEDU: A Classroom Challenge Inspired by Escape Rooms

For SC EdTech this year, Kristen Gunter and I put together a Breakout Game based on the Dr. Johnson's Lab shared on the BreakoutEDU site. The experience of participating in a Breakout game to begin the session made it much easier to discuss and plan for games to use in the classroom.

After arriving early to set up the room, Kristen and I began to get nervous as more and more people began to arrive. Though we've done this Breakout before with a group of around 30 adults, we were excited to see what would happen with a group as large as 75 people!

Packed house with 11 minutes to go @PreisigJessica #SCEdTech2016 pic.twitter.com/ZIpdtZYfpr

— Kristen Gunter (@guntk) November 3, 2016

@PreisigJessica & @guntk lead a packed session of @breakoutEDU fun! Thanks for sharing your tips & resources. #scedtech #SCEdTech2016 pic.twitter.com/LdevfANo2H

— Greta Flinn (@flinng) November 3, 2016

We started the session with a PowToon to introduce the story line and some quick tips on the importance of communication and teamwork. Since the group was so big, I created a Today's Meet backchannel for participants to share clues and ask questions to the group. This was a great solution for such a large group, and I'll likely suggest this for my teachers using Breakout in the classroom.

Thanks to all who came to #BreakoutEDU this morning! #zombies #SCEdTech2016 pic.twitter.com/0TN823yV58

— Jessica D. Preisig (@PreisigJessica) November 3, 2016

Though there were some who became frustrated during the session (which also happens with students in the classroom), our group was able to breakout in just under 20 minutes using one hint! This allowed us plenty of time to debrief the session, share ideas based on our own experience, and review the resources posted in our shared slides presentation. It made me so happy to see such a positive response from our session today!

I can't wait to incorporate @breakoutEDU in first, interactive teach of #4Cs @sprshines @Gwd50Schools @sprgwd50 @CindyH061 @PreisigJessica

— Mrs. West (@ClassWest) November 3, 2016

YES!!! First time ever I can't wait for a Monday to get here! @WKDigitalCoach @WhiteKnollHigh @breakoutEDU @KristyRykard @PreisigJessica

— Adina Wilson (@adinawilson) November 3, 2016

@PreisigJessica enjoyed the presentation and can't wait to #Breakout with my students and teachers

— Mykeida Middleton (@MykeidaM) November 3, 2016

Can't wait to start using @breakoutEDU! So many cool ideas shared at @scedtech Thanks to @PreisigJessica @guntk pic.twitter.com/U5nOAsy1sS

— Julie Sessions (@Julie_Sessions) November 3, 2016