Escape Room Development and Execution!

Our teams were working hard to finalise their puzzles last week and determine their locations and the anticipation began to build in earnest!  The students have created a wide variety of puzzles to solve, word puzzles, number codes, Minecraft  and Rubix cube challenges as well as physical challenges to name a few.

  Today they placed their items in their hiding places and the escape rooms began!

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The invited guests worked together to solve the puzzles in record time.  There was really positive feedback too with the guests thanking the creators for making the opportunity available to them.

While the various group were working, they didn't know they were being observed for their habits of mind.  Specifically, the Whakaaro students were looking for the ways in which they were Thinking Interdependently.

As a group we brainstormed what this Habit of Mind should look like in individuals and groups as they work together and today, they were able to see it in action rather than reflect on their own skills.

Some of the things they spotted were:

• They were celebrating together which meant that they knew what was happening
• They used an open mindset.
• They needed some clues but that didn't stop them.
• There was a little less communication than we expected.
• They talked to each other heaps...but not insanely heaps...When there was a problem, they talked.
• Some people did more than others.
• If it wasn't their turn they split up and got distracted.

Thanks to those of you who helped with supplying small items and with managing excitement!  Its been really fun to watch the students collaborate and create these escape rooms!

Epro8 Challenge Grand Final

 Well done to the Whakarongo Technics (Charlotte Burt, Nathan Morgan, Olivia Mildenhall and Aidan Harris)!   They joined 12 other teams from across the Manawatu, Horowhenua and Tararua districts to take part in the Regional Grand Final of the Epro8 Challenge competition on Monday 9th of November.  The theme of the night was "Pimp my Stuff" and the challenges revolved around upgrading and mechanising curtains, a toilet, a scooter or a toaster.  Our team worked solidly throughout the long event, and persevered to earn 4th equal in a close competition.  Great work guys!

Habits of Mind: Thinking Flexibly

 As our escape rooms continued to progress this week, the Whakaaro students were introduced to a new Habit of Mind - Thinking Flexibly.  In order to experience this, the students were taught to play the card game Gin Rummy.  After a few fun rounds, they reflected on all the different things they had to be aware of and considering as they played.

Wairangi....

Lucy

Whakarongo Technics heading to the Grand Final

 The Whakarongo Technics showed tenacity and teamwork as they competed against fifteen other teams at Monrad Intermediate on Tuesday night.  The team constructed a giant marble run.  The marble had to turn three corners and then make a drop of 30cm before hitting a sensor and setting off another large marble back at the start.  The team showed perseverance and trouble shooting skills as they first constructed their solution and then added in the electronic components.  Their final challenge of the evening then involved them creating an electronic seesaw.  The marble had to move back and forward on the seesaw three times before then continuing around the run.  Nathan was the chief engineer and worked hard to manage the marble on the seesaw - but I was so proud of him as he handed the controls to Aidan to try when the fine handling and the pressure of time were against the team.  Luckily, Aidan was able to manipulate the controls he had designed and the team earned the points needed to keep them safe and through to the Grand Final - while avoiding very stressful sudden death challenge that the fourth place-getters had to go through.  This showed tremendous maturity from the team.  They were swift and focussed and supportive of each other under pressure.

Charlotte and Olivia were excellent in maintaining a  strong, steady pace with construction, listening, actioning requests and checking on both time and challenge details.  This left Aidan free to master the electronics - which the team cannot practice with before hand.  It also allowed Nathan freedom to design the challenge solutions, restructure areas that needed tweaking and plan ahead to the next portion of the challenge.  The team knew their roles and fitted them together seamlessly.  Outstanding work!