♪[theme music]
OK, so today's goal is to break out with a code. So if you notice over on the side
of the room we have lock boxes. So this is what your final code. Your going to test it
on the lock. Um, and as you can see all contributors are going to be rewarded today.
So um, your contribution...you're going to show it here. So this is a table group
activity. You're going to work as a team. So as a team....
My name is Christina Barthel. I teach 8th grade math at Serrano Middle School
and I'm currently finishing up solving multi-step linear equations.
There will be a code that unlocks each one that will take you to the next puzzle.
And again, at the end you're going to get that four digit code.
Um, once your table has that and you show me your contribution, you'll come over
and grab a lock box.
A digital breakout is where students are using a Google form or sometimes a Google site
and they're going through multiple activities. Usually they involve some sort of
puzzle that the students have to solve in order to move on into the next segment
of the activity.
So the digital breakout acti-activity that Ms. Barthel have-had us do was that we had to
solve a bunch of equations and problems and we would find out the code in the end.
Like we would get the answers and then we would either like have to add them up
together or organize them.
It's important to be uh creative with the practices that I'm giving students because
at times they get tired and um...will get somewhat lazy with doing the work.
So I try to come up with creative ways for them to practice that's going to motivate
them to do the problems.
So for the first one did you guys get 7 or negative 7?
7 Positive 7
I got negative 7.
Hmmm. Most intriguing.
Since they were dividing the problems up in their table groups I thought that this
activity was perfect for them to um use error analysis on each other papers.
Yeah because there-there isn't somewhere where it could become negative 7.
2 X...
It's negative 2X because plus a positive.
Oh okay, yeah. Thank you.
The last step is for them to um unlock the lock box.
So uh students would get a code and there's a notification on the Google form
that's telling them that yes, they've successfully completed the breakout
um and to get a lock box and unlock that for their reward.
So I actually just bought these lock boxes on Amazon.
And as well as the locks, the locks are actually just suitcase locks.
I think that this adds the motivation to the activity because students aren't sure
what's in the box. It's a secret.
So they're very excited and curious um about what they'll get once they unlock the code.
I'm just so excited because we finished guys. I'm proud of us.
That was fun. Oh my God. I feel so... fancy.
Usually I fill the boxes with um just little things. I try not to make it too expensive.
So pencils, they can always use a pencil.
Erasers. Uh, usually some candy.
They usually like that and um...
Then I usually add in some passes. So some I Excel Passes.
Um where they can use that pass if they haven't successfully completed
a homework assignment.
In the box there was a Front of the Line Pass. There was also an I Excel Pass,
and candy,
and a pencil.
I feel that students are more interested in getting to the reward,
it's not really what it is. So they don't really care what's inside the box.
I think that they would be excited with anything you'd put in the box.
Uh, my table group didn't get to unlock the box. We were trying hard but we weren't
able to finish the...uh the fourth box. It was-we were getting confused
with the um numbers and we couldn't get the correct answer.
The hardest part for me I think it was working together because I'm more of an
independent person so I think it was working together.
If we had worked together more then we probably would have unlocked the box.
So this activity is real life. Uh, not all students get to unlock the box.
Um I try to make it...and you know I try to give enough time
to where as many students as possible can have the opportunity to unlock the box
but at a certain point we finish the activity and um if they haven't gotten there,
then they haven't gotten there.
I do allow students to come in at a later date to unlock the box if they continue
um to work through the activity on their own. And I think that motivates them because
they want to get the practice done.
♪[theme music]