Polleke’s Blue Room

http://www.freakinrooms.com/games/pollekesblueroom/

    Since I like to play escape game when I was a student, so I chose Polleke’s Blue Room. It is a house with four rooms (four images), and you have to escape the house according to the clues you get. Maybe there is something wrong with my mouse, or maybe I am not familiar with this game, it took me nearly an hour to play this game.

 

    Even though the image is simple, the game is complex since not only should you be careful about every detail but also you should think about the relationship among the clues. I think it is a good game that can be used to teach students who are at early intermediate level. According to Michigan English Language Proficiency Standards,students who are at this level can start short conversations on simple topics,can understand basic narrative text and authentic materials,and can write simple notes and write short reports using basic vocabulary,and common language structures.I can make use of this game to teach them some vocabulary, try describe the procedure of a task (learn to use imperatives to give instructions and learn to express order such as first, next, then, finally…), and follow the instructions to complete a task.

     In the class, the teacher can be an instructor and assistor, and the students can be the game player and center of the class. My class can be divided into three stages. First, I will introduce the game to the students and ask them to play the games without the walk through in a limited time (about 40 minutes). Meanwhile, I will ask the students pay attention to the vocabulary on the top left corner. Students can memorize some words when they click on the objects in the game.

 

    It is impossible for all students to finish the game in the limited time. At this time, ask two or three students who perform better in the game to describe how they play the game to other students who fall behind. At this time, students must make use of the images of the game to explain the procedures of the game and use the word that appeared in the game. If students have difficulty in explaining, teacher and other student can give them a hand. 

 

    Finally, show students the walk through and ask them to finish the task according to the walk through. I don’t think all students can finish the game in the class because it requires extreme carefulness and patient. So they can play the game after class and discuss how they play it in the next class. Meanwhile, I can check whether they master the vocabulary, the imperatives by describing part of the procedure of the game.
    I think that assessment can be informal and formal in many different ways.  I can check their words according to their description of how to finish the game as well as giving them a quiz such as fill in the blanks or multiple-choice. When checking whether they can describe the procedure of the task, I can ask the students discuss the game strategies in the class or write short notes when they play the game.

    It is really an interesting game. It can help students learn something new as well as having the sense of achievement. I can still remember the great joy when I put the numbers I collected together.