How to Use Genially AND CrackAndReveal Together in the Classroom

Genially and CrackAndReveal are two popular tools for creating interactive educational content. But rather than seeing them as competitors, why not combine them to get the best of each? Genially excels at creating visual presentations and immersive environments, while CrackAndReveal specializes in lock and puzzle mechanics. Together, they form a powerful duo for creating captivating educational experiences.

Understanding Each Tool's Strengths

Genially's Strengths

Genially is an interactive content creation platform that shines with:

• Rich visual design: aesthetic templates, animations, visual effects
• Varied interactivity: clickable zones, pop-ups, internal links
• Integrated gamification: educational breakouts, journey games, quizzes
• Immersive presentation: visual environments (rooms, maps, dashboards)
• Resource library: images, icons, illustrations

Ideal for: Creating the narrative environment, visual setting, navigation between different scenes.

CrackAndReveal's Strengths

CrackAndReveal focuses on puzzle mechanics with:

• 14 varied lock types: numeric code, text, color, GPS, directional, musical, schema, etc.
• Creation simplicity: intuitive interface, no technical skills needed
• Free for education: no cost, no advertising
• Multi-locks and chains: create complex progressions
• Content revelation: text, image, video, link, file unlocked after solving
• Competition mode: real-time leaderboards and rankings

Ideal for: Creating the actual puzzles, unlocking mechanics, conditional progression.

Why Combine Them?

Each tool has its limitations:

• Genially: Breakouts are visually beautiful but locks are sometimes limited in types and customization
• CrackAndReveal: Excellent lock mechanics but more subdued interface, less visual decoration

By combining them, you get:

• Genially's aesthetics and immersion
• CrackAndReveal's power and lock variety
• A complete and professional educational experience

Combination Strategies

Strategy 1: Genially as Interface, CrackAndReveal as Puzzle Engine

Principle: Create your visual environment and narration in Genially, then integrate links to CrackAndReveal locks for puzzles.

How to do it:

1. Create your visual escape game in Genially with multiple rooms/scenes
2. At each puzzle point, create a button or clickable zone
3. This button opens (in a new tab or iframe) a CrackAndReveal lock
4. Once the lock is solved, students receive a code or information they enter in Genially to progress

Concrete Example - "The Haunted Manor Mystery"

• Scene 1 in Genially: Students visually explore the manor's entrance hall
• Clickable zone: A locked door with a code lock
• Link to CrackAndReveal: A 4-digit numeric lock
• Resolution: Students solve a math puzzle in Genially to find the code
• Validation in CrackAndReveal: The lock opens and reveals the password for the next room
• Return to Genially: Students enter the password to access scene 2

Advantages:

• Maximum visual immersion
• Use of CrackAndReveal's 14 lock types
• Simple workflow for students

Strategy 2: CrackAndReveal as Main Path, Genially as Puzzle Support

Principle: Use CrackAndReveal's multi-lock functionality to structure the path, and Genially to present visually rich puzzles.

How to do it:

1. Create a multi-lock path in CrackAndReveal with 5-6 stages
2. For each lock, the unlocked content is a link to an interactive Genially presentation
3. In Genially, students explore the puzzle and find the code
4. They return to CrackAndReveal to enter the code and move to the next stage

Concrete Example - "Journey Through History"

Lock 1 (CrackAndReveal - Numeric code):

• Unlocked content: Link to a Genially "Ancient Egypt"
• In Genially: Interactive exploration of a pyramid, hieroglyphic puzzles
• Code found: 1492 (year of America's discovery, clue for next stage)

Lock 2 (CrackAndReveal - Text lock):

• Unlocked content: Link to a Genially "The Renaissance"
• In Genially: Investigation in a Renaissance artist's workshop
• Code found: "VINCI" (name to enter in CrackAndReveal)

And so on for each historical era.

Advantages:

• Clear and tracked progression in CrackAndReveal
• Visual richness of puzzles in Genially
• Variety of lock types (numeric, text, color, GPS...)

Strategy 3: Genially for Introduction, CrackAndReveal for Game, Genially for Conclusion

Principle: Use Genially for narrative moments (introduction, transitions, conclusion) and CrackAndReveal for pure game mechanics.

How to do it:

1. Introduction in Genially: Presentation of context, characters, mission (video, animations, interactive text)
2. Link to CrackAndReveal: Start of puzzle path
3. Game in CrackAndReveal: Students solve 5-6 locks with different types
4. Return to Genially: Conclusion scene with final revelation, congratulations, educational synthesis

Concrete Example - "Scientific Mission"

Genially Intro: Animated video presenting a space mission in danger CrackAndReveal Path: 6 locks representing systems to repair (oxygen, navigation, energy...) Genially Conclusion: Animation showing the saved ship, debriefing of acquired scientific knowledge

Advantages:

• Immersive narration with Genially
• Varied and effective puzzles with CrackAndReveal
• Complete experience from start to finish

Concrete Integration Examples

Example 1: French Escape Game (Middle School)

Educational objective: Review figures of speech

Architecture:

• Genially: Interactive castle map with 5 rooms (metaphor, comparison, personification, anaphora, alliteration)
• CrackAndReveal: 5 locks (one per room)
  • Lock 1 (text): Identify the figure of speech in a poem → "METAPHOR"
  • Lock 2 (numeric): Count comparisons in a text → 7
  • Lock 3 (color): Associate figures of speech with colors → red-blue-green sequence
  • Lock 4 (musical): Listen to verses and reproduce the sound rhythm
  • Lock 5 (multiple choice): Final quiz on all figures

Student workflow:

1. Exploration of the castle in Genially
2. Click on a room → opening of corresponding CrackAndReveal lock
3. Resolution of puzzle on figures of speech
4. Code validated → revelation of a poem fragment
5. Return to Genially, enter fragment to unlock next room
6. All rooms unlocked → access to final treasure (interactive synthesis in Genially)

Example 2: Geographic Treasure Hunt (Cycle 3)

Educational objective: Discover continents and countries of the world

Architecture:

• Genially: Interactive world map with clickable zones
• CrackAndReveal: Multi-lock path of 6 stages (one per inhabited continent)

Locks per continent:

• Europe: GPS lock (Paris coordinates) → Reveals clue about Asia
• Asia: Numeric lock (China's population in billions) → Reveals Africa clue
• Africa: Text lock (name of longest river) → "NILE" → America clue
• North America: Color lock (USA flag) → Red-white-blue → South America clue
• South America: Directional lock (trace the Amazon on a map) → Oceania clue
• Oceania: QR code lock (scan a code hidden in Genially) → Final revelation

Student workflow:

1. Start on Genially world map
2. Select a continent → link to corresponding CrackAndReveal lock
3. Search for geographic information (in provided resources or online)
4. Enter code in CrackAndReveal
5. Revelation of clue for next continent
6. Return to Genially, click on next continent
7. Once all continents explored → treasure unlocked (final quiz in Genially)

Example 3: Math Brevet Review (9th Grade)

Educational objective: Review key math program themes

Architecture:

• Genially: Control room-type dashboard with 8 screens (one per theme)
• CrackAndReveal: 8 thematic locks

Locks per theme:

• Literal calculation: Expand and reduce an expression → Numeric lock (result)
• Pythagorean theorem: Calculate a length → Numeric lock (rounded)
• Probabilities: Calculate a probability → Fraction or decimal lock
• Functions: Read a graph → Coordinates lock (x,y)
• Scratch: Complete a program → Text lock (missing instruction)
• Geometry: Identify a figure → Color lock (figure color)
• Statistics: Calculate a median → Numeric lock
• Trigonometry: Calculate an angle → Numeric lock (degree)

Student workflow:

1. Overview of Genially dashboard
2. Choose a theme → opening of CrackAndReveal lock
3. Resolution of math exercise
4. Code validation → revelation of part of magic formula
5. Return to Genially, theme screen turns green (validated)
6. All themes validated → complete formula revealed → access to final review quiz

Technical Tips for Successful Integration

1. Plan the Path in Advance

Draw a diagram of your escape game before starting:

• What scenes in Genially?
• What locks in CrackAndReveal?
• How do students navigate between the two?
• Where are the validation points?

A good plan avoids unnecessary back-and-forth and clarifies the workflow.

2. Use Direct Links and QR Codes

To facilitate passage from Genially to CrackAndReveal:

• Hyperlinks: Clickable buttons in Genially that open the CrackAndReveal lock
• QR codes: Generate a QR code for each CrackAndReveal lock, integrate it visually in Genially
• Open in new tab: Configure links to open in a new tab, avoiding loss of progress in Genially

3. Visual Consistency

For a smooth experience, harmonize designs:

• Use consistent colors between Genially and CrackAndReveal
• Maintain a common graphic charter (fonts, image style)
• If your Genially has a theme (medieval, space, detective), adapt CrackAndReveal texts accordingly

4. Test the Complete Path

Before launching with students:

• Test the entire path yourself from start to finish
• Verify that all links work
• Ensure CrackAndReveal codes match expected answers
• Test on different devices (computer, tablet, smartphone)

5. Plan for Backups and Hints

• In CrackAndReveal: Use the "progressive hints" function to help stuck teams
• In Genially: Create a "Help" page with instruction reminders, general hints
• Automatic save: CrackAndReveal automatically saves progression, reassuring for students

Educational Advantages of the Combination

Maximum Engagement

The combination of both tools creates a rich and varied experience that maintains attention:

• Genially's attractive visuals to capture attention
• CrackAndReveal's concrete puzzles to challenge
• Alternation between exploration/resolution that paces the activity

Educational Differentiation

You can adapt difficulty on multiple levels:

• In Genially: Narration complexity, amount of visual clues
• In CrackAndReveal: Code difficulty, lock types, number of stages
• Offer multiple paths (easy/medium/hard) or multiple possible routes

Digital Skills Development

Students develop their digital skills by:

• Navigating between multiple tools
• Using QR codes
• Searching for information online (if allowed)
• Managing multiple tabs/windows

Traceability and Assessment

• CrackAndReveal: You can track team progression in real-time, see who validated which stages
• Genially: Consultation statistics (how long on each page)
• Combined: Complete vision of student journey

Limitations and Precautions

Technical Complexity for Students

Some students may be destabilized by navigation between two tools. To limit this:

• Provide a tutorial at the start (video or PDF guide)
• Plan for discovery time before the timer
• Accompany the first times

Risk of Losing Link

If students accidentally close a tab or lose the link:

• Provide a summary document with all links
• Use QR codes displayed in class (physical backup)
• Create a "Main Menu" page in Genially with all CrackAndReveal links

Internet Dependency

Both tools require an internet connection. Plan for:

• A plan B in case of network failure
• A printable version of main puzzles
• Or a 100% Genially version (less lock-rich) or 100% CrackAndReveal (less visual)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a paid Genially account to combine with CrackAndReveal?

No, the free version of Genially is more than sufficient. You can create your interactive environments and integrate links to CrackAndReveal. Some premium Genially features (specific templates, advanced statistics) are a plus, but not essential.

Do students need to create accounts on both tools?

• CrackAndReveal: No account needed to play, only to create
• Genially: No account needed to view, only to create → Students can participate without any registration, you're the one creating in advance.

Can this combination be used in remote mode?

Yes, it's even ideal for distance learning. Students can:

• Work individually or in small video conference groups
• Share their screen to collaborate
• Progress at their own pace

You can track their progression in real-time in the CrackAndReveal dashboard.

How long does it take to create a combined escape game?

For a 60-minute escape game with 5-6 puzzles:

• Genially: 2-3 hours (scene creation, visual integration, animations)
• CrackAndReveal: 1-2 hours (lock creation, code setup, revealed content)
• Integration and testing: 1 hour
• Total: 4-6 hours for the first creation

Once the template is created, you can duplicate and adapt it quickly for other themes.

Can students collaborate on creation?

Excellent idea! Students can:

• Create puzzles in CrackAndReveal (teacher account required, but possibility of collective project)
• Contribute to Genially design (image collection, text writing, scene proposals)
• Test others' creations (quality, difficulty, clarity)

It's a rich educational project that develops creativity, teamwork, and digital skills. To deepen this approach, consult our article on creating a home educational escape game.

Conclusion

Genially and CrackAndReveal are not competitors but complementary allies. By combining Genially's immersive aesthetics with CrackAndReveal's powerful puzzle mechanics, you create educational experiences of exceptional richness.

This combination allows you to:

• Offer captivating visual narration
• Propose varied and sophisticated puzzles
• Track student progression in real-time
• Easily differentiate according to levels
• Create memorable educational paths

So, why choose when you can combine the best of both worlds? Launch into creating hybrid educational experiences that will mark your students.

Read also

• Escape Game for Taste Week
• Escape Game in Music Class / Music Education
• Interdisciplinary Project with an Escape Game
• Back-to-School Escape Game: Learning Classroom Rules
• Best Digital Tools for Teachers in 2025