BreakoutEDU
Critical Thinking and Collaboration
What is BreakoutEDU?
Attribution: Most of the content for this self-paced PD course come from BreakoutEDU creators James Sanders and Mark Hammons from their site breakoutedu.com
How can I use it to enhance & transform my classroom?
BreakoutEDU games will revive your students' interest in using their brains and develop important skills for success in school and in life:
- critical thinking
- problem solving
- troubleshooting
- collaboration
- content area skills including math, science, social studies and language arts
What are other educators saying about it?
"How great it is to be given an opportunity to apply past knowledge and make connections in order to solve new problems." - Maria Galanis, BreakoutEDU - You Had Me At Breakout
- "It’s about struggle in learning. Struggle is fun, exhausting, exhilarating, and it’s good practice for us to step out of kids way, allow them to rely on themselves and their classmates, and make things happen." - Krissy Venosdale, It's Time to Breakout... in Elementary
Here are the basics of how BreakoutEDU works:
Let's Give it a Try!!
Totally Radical 80's Time Travel Adventure!
Welcome back to 1986! Here you will find all of our cutting edge technology from the 1980's which you will need to use along with your knowledge of all that was Rad in the 80's to get yourself back to present day. You only have 45 minutes before you are stuck in the past forever!
Celebrate & Debrief
Implement
It's time to dive in and let your students experience this activity! You may find that facilitating the first game in your classroom is a critical thinking activity for you! But it will be completely worth it!
Find a game! Now you need to determine the game you want to play with your students. Click the button below to browse the game collections. Tested games are listed first and have been well reviewed. "In Beta" games are found on the lower portion of the page and in the "sandbox" button. These are games that are still being reviewed and tested, so you should proceed with them knowing that there may be some kinks. Once you set up an account, you will receive the password for free games in your e-mail.
- Set the stage.
Explain to students that you are going to have them work together in teams to solve a puzzle that is going to really challenge their brains. It is a race to see which team can solve the puzzle first. Give the game scenario and basics of how to play. - Explain the Hint Cards
The hint cards allow the players to work to their frustration level, but not beyond. At any point in the game when the players get stuck or frustrated they can ask for a hint. As the facilitator, you can decide how much information you want to give them. It is important that you are familiar with the game and know how all the puzzles are solved, so that you can provide effective hints. If you don’t know the game, go back to the game page and watch the video for that game. Here’s a blog post with different perspectives on the role of the hint cards.
- Review some rules.
Explain any places in the room that are off limits (maybe the teacher’s desk, book shelves) or any other rules you want to establish. - Give some tips.
Talk to your students about The 5 Tips for Success. - Stay out of it!
You may find it very hard to not help them, but don't give in to the temptation to nudge them in the right direction! Your only involvement should be to keep order, announce time, and give single hints in exchange for a hint card. When you feel yourself tempted to step in, remember that you are trying to build problem-solving skills and break students of their tendency to rely on others to figure things out for them! - Take pictures!
Take at least one picture of your students engaged in the game. This will be the evidence you need to earn your badge.