Digital Breakouts Hit the Library!

Betty Carter, librarian at Richland Elementary, and LaNelle Polak, librarian at Smithfield & Mullendore Elementary, recently partnered to create their first ever digital breakouts.  The pair attended the TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) conference in February where they were exposed to tons of digital resources and ways to use them.  While at TCEA, they attended a session on digital breakouts.  Digital breakouts do not require boxes or locks, but rather take participants on a digital journey of clues and puzzles to find answers and 'break out.'  After much debate, the librarians decided to create breakouts surrounding three book awards:  The Newbery, Caldecott, and Bluebonnet Awards.  They used Google Sites to house each of the breakouts.
During the breakouts, students were asked solve puzzles, take quizzes, and place answers into an embedded Google form in order to reveal the book awards.  Students worked in pairs and were provided a 'clue' card that allowed them to ask for help if they needed it.  After the breakouts were completed, several positive outcomes were noticed:

• Students were truly engaged and active in their learning
• Students showed their grit...they would try several ways to solve the puzzle rather than give up
• Students received immediate feedback on their answers allowing them to adjust and move on
• Students at all levels of learning succeeded!

If  you are interested in learning more about digital breakouts, please contact your campus Digital Learning Specialist.  We'd love to help!