My goal is to find a topic that can be applied to larger concepts but has some element of mystery. In the end they are just research essays. They require a great deal of content acquisition or knowledge but have almost no element of exploration or challenge. I have often found that students are able to get by with almost no content knowledge if they are good at puzzles. The critical thinking element is important but the content knowledge/acquisition often takes a back seat to the puzzle solving. My one complaint about the Breakout Edu model is the overemphasis on puzzle solving. I am intrigued by the possible classroom applications of this hybrid. The Hunt-a-Killer model reminds me a bit of both the Breakout Edu craze as well as that of an old DBQ (document based question) model. In some cases we have hosted murder mystery nights over Zoom to really tap into this!
We are also touching on our “Socialiser” type needs by playing together. The puzzles are fun and help engage our “Achiever” player type need to demonstrate mastery. For example, in Death at a Dive Bar we had to refold some envelopes to find a clue.Īll told these are really fun Date Night and Game Night activities. Part of the fun of the game is that some of the clues are hidden in ciphers than need to be broken and by manipulating the objects into correct orders or locations. The first month we had to determine the murder weapon, then we had to start eliminating suspects. In the season for “Curtain Call” we were helping solve a Cold Case murder of an famous stage actress from the 1920s. In the Stand alone “Death at a Dive Bar” there is a matchbox with a phone number which we thought would be funny to call – We got the voicemail of the character in the game! Each month has a specific goal too. The company nails important details like newspaper clippings that are double sided and printed on newsprint as well as small details like the different handwriting on notes written by different characters. Honestly I was stunned by the quality of the evidence sources each month.
0 kommentar(er)
