Build Collaboration Skills with Breakouts
Build Collaboration Skills with Breakouts
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Collaboration is defined as the action of working with someone to produce or create something. It is also one of the most sought after skills from employers today. However, we are not born knowing how to work with others. This is a skill that must be taught, similar to us teaching our students how to read and write. It is important if we want our students to leave us with all of the necessary life skills that they need, that we provide time to teach and practice these skills. One fun and engaging way that you can keep covering your important content, while simultaneously teaching and practicing these collaboration skills is through the use of Breakouts.
Collaboration is defined as the action of working with someone to produce or create something. It is also one of the most sought after skills from employers today. However, we are not born knowing how to work with others. This is a skill that must be taught, similar to us teaching our students how to read and write. It is important if we want our students to leave us with all of the necessary life skills that they need, that we provide time to teach and practice these skills. One fun and engaging way that you can keep covering your important content, while simultaneously teaching and practicing these collaboration skills is through the use of Breakouts.
Breakouts can be completed in a physical format with a box, and physical locks or it can be done in a digital format where students have digital locks they must provide combinations for. In both of these formats students are given a story that helps to give the breakout a story line. Typically it sets up a problem that students need to solve using a series of different clues that are provided for them. In most breakout formats, students are broken into small groups. Together with their group members they must communicate and use their critical thinking skills to unlock the codes that will provide combinations to their physical or digital locks.
Breakouts can be completed in a physical format with a box, and physical locks or it can be done in a digital format where students have digital locks they must provide combinations for. In both of these formats students are given a story that helps to give the breakout a story line. Typically it sets up a problem that students need to solve using a series of different clues that are provided for them. In most breakout formats, students are broken into small groups. Together with their group members they must communicate and use their critical thinking skills to unlock the codes that will provide combinations to their physical or digital locks.
The activities have a game like feel that keep students engaged and motivated. Each breakout is given a time frame in which students must unlock all of their locks to solve the problem that was posed at the beginning of the game. The game feeling helps to keep students motivated and helps to encourage them to work past the struggles they are sure to encounter within the activity.
The activities have a game like feel that keep students engaged and motivated. Each breakout is given a time frame in which students must unlock all of their locks to solve the problem that was posed at the beginning of the game. The game feeling helps to keep students motivated and helps to encourage them to work past the struggles they are sure to encounter within the activity.
This activity also provides an opportunity for our students who typically struggle, to shine. Our struggling learners, know the feeling that comes along with not getting the information right away. They are the students who know how to work past the hard parts to get to the learning. These breakouts are designed in that way. It is not uncommon for our students who typically find the answers to come easy to them, to struggle a bit with these types of activities. It is an amazing opportunity for students, who do not often get opportunities to shine in the classroom. It is one of my favorite parts of this activity, seeing how students light up and help to coach their group members towards the correct combinations.
This activity also provides an opportunity for our students who typically struggle, to shine. Our struggling learners, know the feeling that comes along with not getting the information right away. They are the students who know how to work past the hard parts to get to the learning. These breakouts are designed in that way. It is not uncommon for our students who typically find the answers to come easy to them, to struggle a bit with these types of activities. It is an amazing opportunity for students, who do not often get opportunities to shine in the classroom. It is one of my favorite parts of this activity, seeing how students light up and help to coach their group members towards the correct combinations.
Keep in mind, just as you would with any other skill in the classroom, collaboration between students will take time and practice. The first few breakouts you do with students will require guidance from the teacher both for collaborating with others as well as hints for the clue combinations provided.
Keep in mind, just as you would with any other skill in the classroom, collaboration between students will take time and practice. The first few breakouts you do with students will require guidance from the teacher both for collaborating with others as well as hints for the clue combinations provided.
If you are interested in trying out a breakout in your classroom BreakoutEDU has some great free options both digital and physical. I am also happy to help collaborate and create a breakout that is individualized to your curriculum as well as your students.
If you are interested in trying out a breakout in your classroom BreakoutEDU has some great free options both digital and physical. I am also happy to help collaborate and create a breakout that is individualized to your curriculum as well as your students.
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