If there is a lock, then there must be a key: using escape rooms to foster collaboration and critical thinking for student training

1. Short Session Description:   A Bard, a Wizard, and a Paladin walk into a room. What will make them work together? Have you considered locking them in? Taking a unique approach, Snell Library improved employee orientation by using an escape room to foster a sense of community among students. Escape rooms provide the perfect environment for collaboration as students must accomplish a common goal. We designed puzzles teaching students their responsibilities and their role within our organization, encouraging critical thinking skills and independence. At the end of the workshop, participants will create puzzles based on desired learning outcomes and then test out their creations.

2. Session Format: Interactive workshop

3. Takeaways: Participants will have hands-on experience combining learning goals to tangible puzzles and testing them. They will become intimate with the process of combining learning goals with engaging challenges. Participants will leave with handouts and other resources to be able to create their own escape room.

4. Organization: Sole organizer, but if anyone is interested please feel free to reach out!

5. Contact Information: Sarah Towne s.towne@northeastern.edu Snell Library, Northeastern University 617.373.2320