Greetings,
We’re starting a new feature where we’ll be highlighting innovative uses of SCVNGR in the field! This week’s post comes from Texas! Read on below:
Students visiting the Texas Maritime Museum last week took learning into their own hands in a unique educational experience with a digital twist. Jennifer Rogers, the museum’s educator, designed a hunt through the museum. Students received questions, clues and riddles on their cell phones via text message prompting them to explore the museum’s exhibits. The material covered both maritime concepts as well as Texas history with questions ranging from “How many barrels of crude oil can the S.T. California Getty carry?” to “In 1821, what pirate was driven out of Texan waters?” Students reported that many questions were more challenging than they initially appeared. When asked, “What form of transportation contributed toward the growth of the commercial fishing,” some students were tempted to respond with “boats” or “ships” before learning more about commercial fishing at one of the museum’s information kiosks… we won’t give away the answer head to Texas Maritime to find out!
Rogers conducted a survey after the hunt to learn more about the students’ experience. The student’s response was overwhelmingly positive and described how it was not only fun but something they would do again. Interestingly, many students identified the experience as “hard” or “somewhat hard,” but as Rogers noted and the surveys confirm this challenging material did not deter their enthusiasm for the program.
Many of the teachers were impressed with how the program allowed students to complete the questions at their own pace, while requiring them to read through information signs or listen to clips on the kiosks. Rogers shared the questions from the hunt with the teachers and they plan to use it as a tool to review the material with the class post-scvngr and increase knowledge retention.
Have a great story about SCVNGR in your neck of the woods, let us know and we’ll feature it up here!