Objective of the Learning Engagement:
Revising the rules of exponents and building collaborative skills
Details of the Learning Engagement:
The Grade 8 students showcased their understanding of the rules of exponents through an interactive Escape Room challenge. Students were paired randomly using a name generator to promote collaboration beyond their usual comfort zones. Twelve stations were set up around the classroom, each containing two questions linked to the laws of exponents. The questions varied in difficulty—some were direct applications, while others required deeper reasoning. Each correct answer provided part of a lock combination, and their ultimate task was to collect all the clues and crack the final code to “escape.”
As the students rotated through the stations, they engaged actively in collaborative problem-solving, discussing strategies, checking each other’s reasoning, and building on each other’s strengths. They demonstrated self-management skills by pacing themselves across multiple stations within the given time, and critical thinking skills as they compared different approaches to simplify expressions. The challenge format also encouraged persistence and resilience, as students had to revisit and recheck questions when they got stuck.
Impact of the engagement on students and reflection as a teacher:
By the end of the activity, not only had the students revised and applied the rules of exponents in an engaging context, but they also strengthened their communication, collaboration, and thinking ATL skills, which are essential for success across disciplines.
-Reena Narang
Interesting activity.
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