Crack the Code: Digital Escape Room

I recently created a digital escape room style review activity for my students. Surprisingly, it was quite simple and my students had so much fun that I don't even know if they realized that they were applying all the things that they had learned. I have setup and used the Breakout EDU boxes in my classroom. The Breakout EDU boxes I used are shared by all the teachers in my district and that comes with the challenges of broken or missing pieces, scheduling conflicts, and many other things. Building your own boxes, on the other hand, can also get expensive. To eliminate all the possible stresses that came along with my desire to create a fun learning opportunity for my students, I began to brainstorm on how I wanted to setup up a digital escape room activity and "Crack the Code" was born. I like the idea of calling it "Crack the Code" instead of the traditional Escape Room because my students are not actually locked in a room and it is more of solving a puzzle or code situation. If you frequent my blog, Instagram, or Twitter feed; you know that I have a thing for using Google tools in the classroom. For this particular activity, I used Google sites, Google forms, and Google slides.

The Background 

This particular activity was created specifically for my supported group of students. I want them to be challenged without the tasks being too difficult and cause them frustration instead. I first decided what topics I would cover, then I chose the basic questions or problems that I wanted to use. Finally, I planned out how I wanted to use each question and the details.

Topics and Uses:

• Measures of Central Tendency - Created a 3 digit code
• Area of Polygons - Gave the location of the missing teacher with a 4-letter code
• Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages - Sent students to a particular area in the room for a clue using mad libs
• Basic Probability - Created a 5 digit code

Since this is set up as if I was missing, I used ransomizer.com to create a ransom note for myself. I felt the ransom note added to the fun factor. I also created a missing flyer. The students had both the ransom note and missing flyer in the team folder along with 2 tip cards, group jobs sheet, and a list of teacher's room numbers.

The Setup

After I determined the topics, questions and setup, I created a Google Sites. I embedded the Google Form and several of the puzzles/questions directly onto the Google Sites. Below you will find that I also embedded a timer with a count down so that students are aware of how much time they have to crack the code. 

I began with the task. The task is like an opener, it explained the problem that the students were expected to solve. My students were excited for the mystery.

Next, the students could read the roles and envelope contents. I believe every student having a job is beneficial to the activity running smoothly. My goal is that everyone participates and that no one tries to take over. There was a video included for the students to watch. I was in the middle of explaining the instruction for the day to the students when I was...KIDNAPPED. I set up the kidnapping to happen while I was on video to set the stage for the Escape Room activity.

Included on the Google sites is a form, images the students need to complete some of the clues in the folder, and a Google Slide. For my form, I used response validation. As seen below, response validation will show the students that their response is incorrect and will not let them move forward. 

With forms you have several options for set up, you can set it up in sections so that the students must solve the clues in order. I did not have a specific order for the students to move in so I put all the codes together with validation. You could also have all the codes on one screen but have the final code in a separate section to mimic how some Breakout Edu. games have a box within a box or one must crack one code to get to the next.

The Google slide was meant to be interactive and I wanted the students to move the items on the screen. In this activity, students were expected to move statements in a particular order to get the code. I see this being used in many different ways such as matching, putting together a puzzle, or revealing items as things are clicked/touched in the presentation.

Below you will find the Math Lib that I used. I like math libs during the digital escape rooms because it gets the students up and moving. Although this is a digital escape room, anything that sends students to a location within the classroom should be varied. I had students realize that a team found a clue behind the pillows without solving the clue. You can create variations on the Site by having one for each team and labeling them by team. You could also make multiple versions and share the link by team. My immediate solution was to have the clue take them somewhere outside of the classroom.

Tips for Creating Your Own Digital Escape Room

Some times you stumble across the perfect well put together activity on TPT and you are able to download and go. There are times that activities may not match the skills you'd like to review perfectly. For those times check out my tips for creating your own digital escape room.

• Save a tree - Your Escape Room can be all digital with no paper involved. The items I created and printed could have also been available on the Site or in Slides.
• Recycle, Reduce, Reuse - Laminate pieces you plan to re-use.
• Stay organized - If you have sets, organize them in labeled folders or envelopes.
• No need to reinvent the wheel - Use activities that you already have and make them digital. (I've used items I've created or purchased from TPT in bits and pieces to create my own Digital Escape Room).
• Don't confuse the kids - Make everything available in one space. Since I used a form, that I could not embed in a Slide, I chose to put everything on a Site. Had I not used a form, I could have used Slides for this Escape Room.

In the end my students were successful in saving me from the bandits. Below you will find a downloadable document that I use to set up my digital escape rooms. 

Until Next Time,

Tech Tip Thursday: QR codes and Forms

Being a 1 to 1 iPad teacher has made me the biggest fan of using QR Codes and Forms. I use both tools separately and together seamlessly. Today I'd like to share some of the ways I use them both. Below in the comments tell me some ways you use them.

QR Codes
A QR code, short for quick response code, is a machine-readable code that can be easily scanned by any electronic device with a camera. QR codes have a wide range of uses from stores use for advertisement to individuals using it to give out their contact information. There are so many possibilities since you can use QI codes to access a URL, save contact information to a phone, send a text message, send an email, display text, display a Facebook button, display a PDF, play a MP3 file, open an app in the app store, play an audio file, or display images.

I find QR Code helpful when creating instant feedback center activities or rotation stations. I love that I can have students to scan for feedback. I have even tried my hand at given feedback as a voice clip.

Forms

A Google Form is a web-based app ran by Google used to create forms to collect data. You have the option of displaying that dat in a spreadsheet. Google Forms are free and can be used for a wide range of uses. You can create polls, surveys, quizzes, and much more using Google Forms. I use forms for surveys, self-reflection, pre-view activities, checks for understanding, reteaching, and assessments. A unique way I use Forms are for "Choose Your Own Adventure" style review.

QR Codes and Forms

What do you get when you combine QR codes and Forms? I'll answer that for you. You get complete awesomeness that runs as well as a well oiled machine. Combining the two tools makes completing some tasks more seamless. They can also come in handing if you do not have a one to one class like myself but you have to check out devices to use in your class. How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

1. Discipline for Students: You can have students scan a code to complete a form as they reflect on their behavior.
2. Discipline for Teachers: Create a unique code that you scan and it notify the parents upon completion of the form.
3. Passes: Have students complete a form when they are given permission to leave the class.
4. Tardies: Have students scan and complete a form upon enter the class tardy.
5. Tracking: You can tracking behaviors, pass usage, etc.
6. Warm Ups: Have students scan and complete a form for warm up.
7. Notifying Parents: You can use a unique QR code each student or a generic form that will notify parents each time you complete it.
8. Checking Books Out: You can have students scan a code to check out books from your class library.
9. Feedback: Use QR Codes to give feedback for behaviors, projects, papers, etc.
10. Classroom Observations: Scan a code for the teacher then complete the form that they will then have access to.
11. Lunch Count: Have students scan then choose a lunch choice. You be able to quickly check the numbers on the response tab.
12. Event Registration: Use a QR code for access to the form for event registration.
13. Activity Checkin: Use a QR code for access to the form for activity check in.
14. Digital Gallery Walks: Students can create a code that give access to their product in a form. Students can view the product then give feedback in the form.
15. Scavenger Hunt: Scan a code for the clue that will send students to the next code.
16. Collecting information: Use a code with a form to collect information from students or parents. Parents can even scan the code at him to complete the form.
17. Late Work Submissions: Now that you can submit attachments to Forms, students can scan a code to turn in a make up work.
18. Assignment Submission: Students can scan to submit an assignment. They can submit to one form on a different form based on the assignment. Warm Up Form, Journal Form, Homework Form, etc.
19. Parking Lot: Have students submit comments and questions to a Form via scanning a code while you are teaching or working in small groups. Address questions when convenient or at the end of class.
20. Sign Up Sheet: Use to sign up for an event. Use multiple codes for multiple events. 
21. Input: Use QR codes to get input on a topic.
22. Professional Development sharing: Use a QR Code for sharing and give all access to the results in Google Sheets.
23. Preview Activity: Use a code to gain insight from students as they preview upcoming materials. You can set up stations with codes to scan.
24. Brainstorming: Use a QR Code for brainstorming and give all access to the results in Google Sheets.
25. Collecting Data at Stations: If you are collecting data, use a code to collect it and share with data via Google Sheets allowing students to analyze it and decide how to display it.
26. Scheduling: Use limited time slots with forms for schedule. Once a slot is filled it will be removed from the form.
27. Lesson Plans: Code can be scan to complete plans as a team or can be used to access plans and give feedback via a form.
28. Rubric: Create a rubric for a project and scan the code to complete the rubric and give feedback to students. Have students code your form and create their own unique code to receive feedback instantly after it has been graded.
29. Evaluations: Use codes with Forms to share evaluation notes.
30. Digital Breakout: Have the students scan codes in multiple areas and crack the code to go to the next code for the next challenge until all challenges are completed.

Tell me in the comments how you use QR Codes and Forms together.

Until Next Time,

Digital Interactive Notebooks in Math

I have been a math teaching, technology integrating, innovation seeking, interactive notebook loving middle school teacher since I've been in the classroom. My goal has always been to deliver what the students needed in the most fun, innovative, and exciting way possible but we all know that there are some things that can't be given in such a way. It this is true for all subject areas and not only math.

Since I've began my journey as a 1 to 1 iPad teacher in 2015 it has been a goal to have a paperless classroom. Being a math teacher and believing that you just have to write, not type, certain things out in math I have have been stagnate in my journey even though I've seen the transformation and takeover of digital interactive notebooks in classrooms. I use the LMS Schoology daily and I've witnessed students trying to type some things out that are just not possible with the letters, numbers, and symbols available on a regular keyboards. When I think about those instances things such as number lines, probability trees, and tables come to mind. Sure, these things can be created in several programs but not in the programs that are big hits for digital interactive notebooks for students such as Google Slides and other programs similar to PowerPoint.

Do you see my dilemma now? As a math teacher, I want my students to be able to write or draw certain things out but with Google Slides that is not possible without app smashing which I choose to avoid as much as possible to simplify the daily process in my classroom. Every year I've explored how I could possibly go paperless. I considered many thing but none allow me to create interactive digital pages and had the capabilities for my student to write/draw on the screen of their iPads simultaneously. I have finally found a game changer! Granted, I may be late to the party but my mind is blown. Did you know that Keynote has an added feature of allowing drawing on the slides?

Yes, Keynote! The Apple created presentation software and app. It has an awesome feature that allows it to do all the things we use Google Slides and the veteran, PowerPoint, for BUT, wait for it, you can draw/write on the screen!

I do not even know if this is a new feature but it is a new feature to me that I am excited to have discovered. Not only am I able to go paperless but I can get rid of my group supply sets and many of the other things I used for my class with interactive notebooks. By going digital, my supply list to families will basically be kleenex, sanitizer, and earbuds, I will not have to deal with lost notebooks or things falling out, and lastly, clean up at the end of every class will be ahh-mazing!

A digital interactive notebook allows you to take cut and paste, sorting, or matching interactive activities and allow them to be completed on an electronic device without the paper, scissors, tape, glue, or crazy clean up. You can even recreate plain old worksheets to make them digital and interactive. I was able to take all of my doodle and guided notes and use them in my students' digital  interactive notebooks.

Some of the pluses include:

• Teachers can bulk share from Macbook or iPad.
• Students can import the keynote directly to their iPads.
• Slides can be interactive allowing students to move objects around on the screen.
• Students can import additional slides throughout the year.
• You can create or use slides created in Google Slides or PowerPoint.
• While creating the slides from your MacBook you can import pdfs directly to slides for your students to draw on.
• You can link slides to the pages listed in the table of contents.
• Students can insert pictures, audio, or video to slides.
• Teacher can downloads videos including those from Youtube and add them to slides.
• Keynote is a free app/software for iPads and Macbooks.

It would be great if:

• There was a highlighter marker. There is only a pen, crayon, pencil, and marker feature.
• Students could import pdfs on iPads.
• Fonts would import. (If using Google Slides, the fonts will not remain but there is a work around for this.)

Overall, this was an amazing discovery and I feel that I literally just upped my game as a teacher. I have been able to almost eliminate my class supply list, I no longer have to worry about students losing pages or notebooks, and I do not have to deal with a hot "glue-tape-paper" mess. I see a heightened interest with the digital interactive notebook with my students. Some of them also are relieved to not have to remember to bring their notebooks to class.

Download your personal copy of the starter pages of a digital math notebook and some integer concept pages plus some page templates that you can make your own.

Leave a comment below. Are you a fan of digital interactive notebooks? 

Until Next Time,

Tech Tip Thursday: Padlet

Ever need to gather all your students responses or ideas in one place? Need help putting a twist on your everyday activities? Padlet is a wonderful tool to help with that. This week's Tech Thursday is all about using Padlet in the classroom. I was first introduced to Padlet as a way to share learning experiences during my first Ed Tech Team GAFE Summit. I was sucked in from the moment I click on the shared link and starting sharing and reading about my colleagues experiences in the different sessions.

Self-Paced Learning with Schoology

Based on previous experiences with my advanced classes I felt a need to pre-test my students knowledge of solving equations. The assessment was short and to the point with 3 sections: one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations.  The results that followed weren't too shocking for myself. 8% of my students were ready for the next level which was solving equations with decimal and fractional coefficients. About 38% of may students were not ready for equations at all. The remaining 54% of my students fell somewhere in the middle. I did not want to hold students back but I also didn't want to leave students behind so Self-Paced Learning was born in my class to solve this problem that I was conflicted with. Without any researching I took off and started planning.

Quizizz vs Kahoot: The battle of the Game-Based Response Systems

Quizizz and Kahoot are both game-based response systems and I love them both equally for different reasons. When my students arrive to class and I reveal that we will be playing either Quizizz or Kahoot, my students immediately become excited.

Quizizz is a game-based response system that may aid in the gamification of your classroom or to just get your students excited about learning. You could easily search for a ready-made quiz,  create your own using the Quizizz database of questions, or create a quiz with your own questions. Even if you choose a ready-made quiz, you could edit the questions, delete questions, or add questions of your own. You can also set time limits, as little as 5 seconds and as much as 15 minutes, for each question individually.

After the ease of setting up your quiz, Quizizz gives teachers the option of playing a live game or assigning it as "Homework." Assigning the Quizizz as "Homework" just means the students can complete the Quizizz until it expires. In either mode the students are able to view all the questions on their own device as well as see the leaderboard.

There are also several options that allow you to personalize the Quizizz for your students before giving them access to it. I usually keep everything on but sometimes I turn off the "Show Answers" feature. I find that the leaderboard motivates the students but when it's assigned as "Homework" students believe that they are in 1st place but they can be pushed out of the top spot if someone faster comes along.

I created a Quizizz to allow you to experience it through the eyes of the students. Unfortunately, it expires on April 5th. The expiration of the quizzes is one thing that I wish they'd change. There are some instances that I would like my students to be able to have access to Quizizz quizzes for as long as they'd like for practice and review.

Follow the link below and use the game code provided before April 5th to experience the thrill of Quizizz for yourself.

1. Open https://join.quizizz.com in your browser.
2. Enter the 6-digit game code 986726  , and click "Proceed."
3. Now enter your name and click "Join Game!"
4. You will get an avatar, and then see a "Start Game" button. Click it to begin!

What students love

• It's fun for all the students. What's wrong with friendly competition? The students play it like it is a video game.
• My students love the silly avatars. After they put the code and choose a name it amazes me how they look at the screen waiting on their avatar to pop up. 
• Who doesn't like music? The music changes the entire atmosphere in my class. 
• Based on my students reactions, I'm pretty sure that the memes are their favorite. It's almost as if they don't even realized that they are reviewing math skills and concepts.

What I love

• I am not confined to my device whether it be an iPad or laptop to control the questions.
• The students see the questions on their individual devices.
• I feel as if I am as bad as the students when it comes to instant gratification because I love the live feedback when we play live and I love the instant results when I assign it as "Homework."
• I love the fact that my students like it.
• Quizizz is student paced. Whether it's live or not students can still move at their own pace.
• I LOVE the ease of creating quizzes. The question search option has me sold!

Kahoot is already loved by many educators. It was the best new thing in our build last school year. The students LOVE to Kahoot and anytime I ask for suggests for reviewing math concepts, they ALWAYS say Kahoot. Kahoot as another game-based response system that helps students get excited about learning and teachers get excited about teaching. With Kahoot, you can also create your own Kahoots, their version of quizzes, or search ready-made Kahoot that are usually created by other educators. Kahoot gives the option of setting time limits of 5 seconds to 120 seconds.

Kahoot offers a little variety. You also have the option of creating discussions or surveys. 

Kahoots can only be played live but I've seen classroom on opposite sides of the globe play together using a shared screen. Students or participants see the questions projected on a screen and answer those questions on their own devices. You, as the teacher, hold the upmost honor of press the button to go to the next question. 

Kahoot also has a new question format. Jumble allows players to put the answers in a correct order instead of choosing one correct answer.

The students will see their own score and rank on their individual devices but the top 5 kahooters will be displayed on the projected Scoreboard.

You can download the results from the Kahoot to see the results and use for grading or instructional purposes.

What students love

• The students love the game appeal. Kahoots are fun for all students.
• Students love the music. I can't argue with that either.
• Students love the Scoreboard. Most of my students are competitive. I even have a competitive spirit myself.

What I love

• The ease of creating the Kahoots.
• I like the variety. I like being able to do discussions, surveys, and the new Jumble questions.
• I can't resist how much my students enjoy Kahoots.
• I love being able to add videos to the questions.

When it comes to Quizizz, Kahoot, and students it is a win-win. You can create either with ease and the students love it so how could you lose. Both can be used as a preview to content to come, as a review for things already taught, or as reinforcement for freshly introduced concepts. When things appeal to my students, I try to incorporate them in my classroom. In this case, it not too hard to make happen. Drop me a line below and tell me if there is a clear cut winner in your eyes.

Until next time,

Transform Your Classroom with Google Forms

With a 1:1 iPad classroom and tons of Google Apps for Education training I have become an avid user of all things Google. I have created this list of ways I use Google Forms in my classroom and with my team members. In this age of technology, why not let your access to technology help you to work smarter not harder. Please comment below if you are interested in a tutorial on any of the listed uses.

For Classroom Management
I created the following GoogleSlides presentation outlining Google Forms uses for Classroom Management. My favorite thing about my uses for Classroom Management is that you do not need a 1:1 classroom in order for these to work for you. These uses can also be efficient using a chromebook or laptop.

For Instruction
For Google Forms for Instructions I wasn't as fancy and created a GoogleSlides presentation.

• Assessments: The quiz feature has made this easier by leaps and bounds but prior to the quiz feature I fell head over heels for the Super Quiz Google Sheets add-on. I first began using forms for assessments when I begin to flip my classroom. I found Forms to be the most efficient way and with the Super Quiz add-on I was able to embed the forms on the webpage I was using for the videos and notes that I expected my students to review. I was able to give instant feedback as well as give additional practice or resources. I can have the assessments, big or small, graded automatically or you can grade responses manually. With the ability to send results to spreadsheets, you are able to track progress of your students and plan for future instruction at the snap of your finger.
• Collect Data for Activities: You can have individuals or groups to use Forms to share their finds with the entire class. This would work across subject areas and it saves time. You are able to send data to a spreadsheet and share the spreadsheet with students. There are many possibilities after you share the class data. Students can analyze their finds, compare their findings to those of their peers, answer questions related to the data collected, and much more. This is not limited to numerical data. For ELA or History students can respond to research resources or readings then view the spreadsheet to compare the findings of their peers.
• Choose your own Adventure Activities: This is by far my favorite of all the Form uses for instruction. I find that these are fun (but then again I am a geek) and remind me of books I read as an adolescent. You are able to create Choose your own Adventure Forms by adding sections and then adding "Go to section based on answer" to the questions.
                 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Student Reflection: I have become a believer in student reflection. I use Google Forms before and after post test to have the students think about what grade they think they'll earn and afterwards as a reflection of what you actually earned and why. I use Forms after pretest as a tool to allow to set short term goals. Students tell what they would like to earn on the post test and how they plan to achieve the goal score. I have students to reflect on their behavior also,
• Peer Evaluation: Students can collect responses about their work from their peers or rate their peers performance while working in a group.
• Grade Collection: If you use rubrics, quick grade collect can be achieved using Google Forms. If you have your expectations outlined in a form, you can possibly grade students as you walk around and observe, during presentations, during one on one check-ins, or during gallery style walk around activities. If you are one of those teachers that walk around and check homework during the daily warm up, you can create a Form for that! 
• Digital Breakout EDU: If yo are familiar with those mini versions of the escape the room scenarios, you'll love the idea of being able to achieve this digitally without all the locks and boxes.

For Planning

• Team Lesson Plans: Although I am not currently in a building were we used the same lesson plans, after reading Matt Miller's The Magical Automatic Lesson Planner with Google Forms I was convinced that Forms would be an awesome way to plan as a team. I have been in buildings where each person of our math team would take turns to create our plans for the week. Without the pain of copying and pasting or trying to remember not the save over the original format you could create a form for planning and use autocrat to create a separate doc for each week or continuous doc for all the lesson plans for the week, month, quarter, or school year.
• Data Analysis: Forms could be created to collect data and review as a team. An added feature of the Super Quiz Google Sheets add-on is able to add separate classes of teachers to one Quiz and being able to compare classes or teachers data.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Thanks for stoping by,