Breakout Learning Without the Box

bit.ly/TCEAbox

The world needs people who are problem solvers, people who keep working and trying even when the solution is not easy to find. Educators can develop these skills in their students by using a different approach to teaching.  Breakout learning is designed to engage students by presenting a scenario that requires thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance.  

Session Objectives

Focus question:  

How do breakout experiences support the development of soft skills?

Reference: What are Soft Skills from www.resources.workable.com

"..we do ourselves a disservice by using the term "soft-skills" when referring to reasoning, logic, collaboration, communication, and thinking skills. In the information technology industry, these skills are crucial and anything but soft because they are the most difficult to master and, unfortunately, fairly rare in employee candidates."

~Johnathan Magid

Rackspace Hosting


College and Career Ready: Soft Skills Are Crucial | Edutopia 

Objective 1:  Experience a digital breakout to understand the concept from a student's perspective.

Objective 2:  Dissect the elements of a breakout and ways to assure equitable access to materials

Breakout Elements

Scenario - The story by which the breakout is framed.  Should be age appropriate and engaging for the students.  "The Hook"

Clues - Details revealed in a variety of ways that can include links to other sites, embedded details on the page, and the type of lock. 

Locks -  Google form with short answer questions that are required and validation applied to force acceptance of only one answer.  

Scaffolds (Optional) - Support added to the breakout to help students as they work.  Can be text on the page or additional clues added to the google form as hints.  


Accessibility Tool Options/Suggestions

Chrome Extensions - Open Dyslexic, Screen Shader, Read Aloud, Read & Write, ImTranslator

Edge Browser - Use the built-in read-aloud and translator. The immersive reader option also has font type/size, page color, line focus, and more.

Objective 3:  Build a framework for a breakout using Google Sites and Google Forms with validation.

Step 1.  Create a Google Form

Step 2.  Add lock images to the Google Form

Find an image of a lock that matches the type of code.  For example, if the combination is three numbers, then add an image of a lock that requires three numbers.  

Step 3.  Force an answer and provide clues with 'Response validation' option in Forms

IMPORTANT:

The correct answer will be shown if an error message is not entered. 

Step 4.  Form Settings

Step 5.  Create Google Site/page

Sites can be named and renamed (upper left).  Collaborators can be added at any time.  The arrow beside 'Publish' provides options relating to publishing the site.  Publish settings is where the name of the site is created and if the site will appear in search engines.  Changes made to a page will automatically save, but will not be visible online to viewers until 'Publish'  is clicked.  This allows changes to be made and reviewed before visible to the world.  To preview, click the computer icon shown between the forward arrow and the link symbols in the upper right of the page.  Other editors who are working on the site can be seen to the left of the undo arrow.  

Step 6.  Add Elements to Google Site

Insert


The Insert tab provides access to multiple pre-set layouts that may be applied to a page.

Other elements like text, images, table of contents, and much more can be added from the 'Insert' area. 

Pages


The 'Pages' tab is where Site pages can be added. Click the + symbol at the bottom of the Pages tab to add a page.   Sub-pages can be created to show under other pages.  Page visibility is determined by clicking the jellybeans next to the name to reveal additional options.  

Themes


Pre-set themes are available under the 'Themes' tab as well as the option to create a custom theme.  

Be careful when changing a theme as this applies to the entire site, not just the page that is currently visible.  


Floating Tools with Double Click on Site

The floating tools appear with a double click on the site page when in edit mode.  Use the tools to quickly edit the page without using the Insert menu in the editing panel to the right of the page.  

Step 7.  Publish and share the site with others

Publishing the site makes the changes visible to others who have the link to the site.  Changes are automatically saved but are not visible to viewers until published.  This can create confusion as an editor will see something different than viewers if 'Publish' is not selected.  

Share the site with others by selecting the link icon in the heading control area and copying the link.  Add it to newsletters, emails, etc.  

Objective 4:  Explore and curate digital resources to use with a breakout.

There are many ways to deliver clues in a digital breakout.  Here are a few tools that can be customized and embedded or linked to a Google site page to make the breakout more engaging for the students.  Each of these has a free version and some have additional features that require an account and a fee.  Click here to get a copy of a planning guide to help with developing a breakout. 

Breakout Planning Guide. (requires a Google account)

Breakout Planning Form

Jigsaw Planet is a site that creates custom jigsaw puzzles from any image that can be embedded on most sites.   

Fodey.com is a free site that generates images that can be used with most digital media.  Newspaper clippings, talking squirrels, and Ninja texts are a few of the creation options. 

Thinglink allows for content delivery using a dynamic visual interface.  Images, videos, or 360 degree files can be edited and embedded on a site to provide interactive clue delivery.  Free and paid accounts are available.  

Use  360 cities virtual tours as rewards for breaking out, or as a way to deliver clues. Embed or link to a virtual tour. Create your own or use existing tours. No account is required. 

Use EdPuzzle to deliver engaging clues using video with custom notes, audio, and questions.  Link or embed the EdPuzzle video to a site. 

Teachers must create an account to use EdPuzzle.  Free and paid options are available.  

Google Maps and Google Earth are great ways to deliver clues.  Use links from customized maps to deliver information to students with a geographic element.  Accounts at Google make customization possible and sharing easy.

Create realistic fake text messages to use as clues on a page. Control how the battery, connection, and settings on the fake message look as well as what the message says.  

Create a custom receipt for clues involving math, money, taxes, etc.  

Create clues with a fake ticket to an event.  This online generator has many fields to customize allowing many possibilities.

Type a clue into one box, and the words appear upside down and backwards.  

For more advanced grades, use a cipher to deliver a clue.  This site includes Enigma options, binary, and more.  Type the word or words, then select the desired code.  

Hide a message in an eye chart format. Type in the words and let the site do the rest.  

Share Breakouts With Others

Use this Padlet to share your creations with the global community.  Include details about the breakout to help participants know which breakouts will work best for their students.  

Email: julie.combs@cmcss.net

I am currently a Technology Integration Coach in the Clarksville Montgomery County School System.  I have been with CMCSS for over 25 years and have been in education for 30 years.  

I am a Google Certified Educator and a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Master Trainer.  

Twitter handle: @jreaderh

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