There is a growing interest in using computer games for language teaching and learning. An 'Escape the Room' game is a popular type of game in which the player has to find hidden objects, solve puzzles and use logic to escape a room which he/she is trapped in. In this presentation, I'll be showing how this genre of online games can be used for effective language learning in different contexts (connected classroom, computer room, homework), especially with young learners and teenagers. The session will be based on ideas from the Digital Play blog (http://www.digitalplay.info/blog). Presented at the Virtual Round Table, October 2010: http://www.virtual-round-table.com/events/digital-play-escape-the-room Link to recording (Adobe Connect) : http://lancelot.emea.acrobat.com/p43788081/

1. Escape the Room! Graham Stanley, blogefl@gmail.com October 2010 http://game-efl.blogspot.com There is a growing interest in using computer games for language teaching and learning. An 'Escape the Room' game is a popular type of game in which the player has to find hidden objects, solve puzzles and use logic to escape a room which he/she is trapped in. In this presentation, I'll be showing how this genre of online games can be used for effective language learning in different contexts (connected classroom, computer room, homework), especially with young learners and teenagers. The session will be based on ideas from the DigitalPlay blog, written by myself and my colleague, Kyle Mawer : http://www.digitalplay.info/blog .

2. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Why computer games?

3. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Why adapt existing computer games?

4. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Which computer games are good to use?

5. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog 'Escape the Room' games

6. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Designing tasks for learners

7. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Gap fill for vocabulary / grammar

8. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Relay reading

9. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Jigsaw reading

10. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Information gap

11. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Live listening The Viridian Room “ Now when you lift the waste-paper basket, you should see a lighter underneath. Pick it up and then move to the kitchen and open the fridge again.”

12. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Observe and write

13. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Observe / vocabulary

14. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Watch and say “ What should we do? Stay in or go out?” “ Shall we listen to some music?” “ What do you want to do now?”

15. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Listening/ questioning “ So, the squirrel has stolen your crisps? What are you going to do now? Well, why don't you try looking at the Bookcase to see if there's something There to help you?”

16. http://www.digitalplay.info/blog Conclusion

17. Escape the Room! Questions..? Comments..? Doubts..? Graham Stanley, blogefl@gmail.com For a written version of this presentation : http://game-efl.blogspot.com Some examples from Kyle Mawer's wiki : http://kylemawer.wikispaces.com/ More ideas for using games available here : http://www.digitalplay.info/blog