deck.toys is a virtual escape room builder created by author Boon Jin to create immersive lessons students can enjoy inside and outside of the classroom. One of the biggest benefits of this website is you have the ability to create different “tracks” so students can learn at their own pace and level. There are many different mini-games you can include for any discipline. Some of the games I’ve used in mine are:
- Sorting
- Crossword
- Sequence
- Matching
- Maze (navigate the word to the definition, multiple options)
- Jigsaw
- Other cool options: Draw and Guess, Game Show, Flash Cards, Quick Poll, Randomizer, etc.
You can also add locks, secret keys, timers, in-class challenges, and something called “gauntlet” which “vaporizes half the class”!
Here’s a link to one I created to review elements of research papers:
Here’s the pricing:
How to use in the ELA classroom:
- Mentor text trivia
- Small group challenges
- Reviewing skills before moving onto more complex skills
- Extra activities if students finish early
- Differentiated paths
- Formative assessments plus assessment data
Pros:
- Data tracking
- High engagement
- Fun both in and out of the classroom
- So many different mini-games and functions that students will never get bored
- Option to add more urgency with timers, buzzers, and one-time use locks
- Lots of public escape rooms in case you can’t build your own
Cons:
- MAJOR learning curve. Don’t expect to finish your rough version for like, 3 days.
- For outside of classroom instruction, you still need to be very detailed for instructions. Probably best to “train” them with an easy room then remove supports as they learn.
Rating: 8/10