An educational escape (EE) is a team-based experience in which participants interact with disciplinary content and/or skills to solve different kinds of puzzle tasks. The tasks are typically linear and have a specific learning goal that users must meet, usually within 45 minutes. Escape tasks and clues are often hidden in physical or digital “boxes” with numeric or alphabetic locks. EE developers “aim for a high success rate” (Veldkamp et al., 2020, p. 3) and try to make sure that the participants achieve the educational goals of the escape.
Language teachers can integrate escape games in classrooms in many ways, such as using ready-made resources from Breakout EDU (breakoutedu.com), creating f2f rooms or having students do so, or using any of the many available digital tools to design online escapes. All escapes can focus on language and include digital tools. Further, escape use can help language teachers think about:
- Identifying opportunities for students to theorize and make predictions;
- Getting students to take risks;
- Responding to students in real ways;
- Modeling wonder/curiosity;
- Personalizing and challenging students’ thinking;
- Exploring content in new ways.
In short, the current research on escapes suggests that there are compelling reasons to design, use, and study them. To realize maximum benefit from language escapes, however, they should be designed using a task engagement framework. When teachers can support students’ intense concentration and absorption in tasks by using such a framework, they can also facilitate their students’ achievement (Csikszentmihalyi, 2014).
This presentation briefly introduces Egbert et al.’s (2021, 2022) comprehensive model of task engagement and then links it to the design of different language-focused escapes. Session participants will acquire both an awareness of task engagement facilitators and knowledge of resources for developing their own engaging escapes.

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Abstract Summary
This presentation briefly introduces Egbert et al.’s (2021, 2022) comprehensive model of task engagement and then links it to the design of different types of language- and culture-focused escape experiences. Session participants will acquire both an awareness of task engagement facilitators and knowledge of resources for developing their own engaging escapes.

Authors:
Joy Egbert, Washington State University, United States
Jendra Elbek, Washington State University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Joy Egbert is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at Washington State University Pullman in United States

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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