1. Escape Rooms: Capturing Their Attention While Sharing Your Message

2. Linda Ludwig Information Security Awareness Specialist
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA

3. What is an escape room?
Series of puzzles or challenges set within a theme to be tackled by a team.
If the challenges are completed within the allotted time, the team wins.

4. Escape – experience it, here and now
Break up into teams
There are kits for 15 teams of 4 to 10 people
Pick a Team Captain
Team Captain will handle solution envelope
There is a hint page in the manila folder
Use it – it covers common obstacles

5. Escape Room Kits Each team should have One scenario page with rules
One manila envelope
One locked envelope
One plastic bag labeled “Trash”
One solution envelope for Team Captain

6. Rules
You have 20 minutes
Everything you need to solve the problems are in the packets
The process is not linear
The current puzzle(s) may need help from future discoveries.
If you are stuck, maybe you have not found all the clues.
Multiple puzzles can be worked on simultaneously.
Subgroups may work on different puzzles.

7. Goals Find username Figure out password
Find and decrypt top secret file

8. Any questions before we start?

9. Advantages of Escape Rooms
Fun way to learn
Interactive
Team building
Encourages critical thinking

10. Participants Since October, 153 attendees
Consisting of faculty, staff and students
Senior leadership and Senior staff
Departments – Dining, Accounting, Development, Academic Support
Residence hall staff

11. Resources – Where I got my ideas
FedEx Escape Room handout from their presentation at Security Awareness Summit
Escape the Game: How to Make Puzzles and Escape Rooms by Adam Clare and Samet Choudhury

12. Idea Sources Continued…
BreakoutEDU
101 Best Escape Room Puzzle Ideas by now escape
Lock Paper Scissors
Can You Escape and more from– Microsoft Game store

13. Ideas can come from anywhere

14. Where to start Choose a theme Have a pregame room/materials
A theme brings the room together and provides justification for the challenges
Have a pregame room/materials
This sets the stage and builds the suspense
Print out of the theme narrative
Have clear rules
Pregame materials are read before the game

15. The Setup Think about the flow Things may start slow
Have an easy win at the beginning
Builds confidence and excitement
Test and retest
Add hints where necessary

16. Tips Keep a cheat sheet of puzzles Allow for the use of hints
Helpers are useful in keeping things flowing

17. Organization – Keeping track of the details

18. Room Setup Posters on wall Pencils in a cup with key hidden at bottom
Shredding in small trash can below table
Bookmarks hidden in books around room
Fake password hidden under the keyboard
Computer for logging in
USBs

19. Table Setup and Advantages
All clues and puzzles contained in three envelopes
Able to run multiple escape rooms at once
Very portable
Setup is very quick

20. Supplies Combination Locks Key Locks Invisible ink pens UV flashlights
Laminating sheets

21. Puzzle Ideas Locks Encryptions Logins Hidden items Shredded documents
Math problems or counting

22. More Puzzle Ideas Team activity Light
UV, glow in the dark, light patterns
Items hidden in plain site
Using something in a different way
Riddles
Mirrors

23. You can do it! Be creative! Be fearless!
Just dive in and give it a try!

24. Questions? Or Share escape room stories?