Digital breakouts provide students a way to work collaboratively and use problem solving skills to open digital locks. A digital breakout or escape can be used to teach any concept or skill, and they are a wonderful way to promote 21st century skills like collaboration, communication and critical thinking. Below I’ll share my answers to digital breakouts frequently asked questions. How do I prepare a digital breakout? Very little prep is required to use a digital breakout with your students. They are completely technology based and paperless. You will not have to spend an hour at the copy machine getting all your materials ready. All this is required is access to an internet enabled device and a free Google account. If your students do not have their own accounts, you can create a shared account for your class. This will allow all your students to log-in to one account

For the past couple of years, I have heard a lot about escape rooms and breakout activities. I love the concept of students working together to solve puzzles and figuring out the codes to open the locks. However the typical breakout activities can take an hour or more to complete, which is not always feasible with a typical elementary schedule. When you factor in book check-out, many media specialists only have about 20 to 30 minutes for a lesson. So when I heard about digital breakouts I became very excited. I could create a digital breakout with challenges simple enough to be completed in or or two class periods while still teaching the skills that my students need to learn. And I knew the kids would LOVE them. This led me to create my first digital breakout: Library Rules and Orientation. Benefits of Digital Breakouts Students must work together