Report #2
FIPP Activity Report
Funded by the Basic Skills Initiative
Name Robin Bouse
Date 10/15/2009
FIPP Partner Briita Halonen
Section #1295
Activity /Strategy Amazing El Camino College Scavenger Hunt
Category 2. Classroom Environment
Briefly describe the activity/strategy.
1. Introduction Students were given a list of activities and places to find around El
Camino Campus. Students strategized and worked in groups of 3 to finish the
list. On the list were places and services students should know about to be
successful students (i.e., library, computer rooms, job and health services).
The goals of this activity were to: 1) get students up and out of their seats and
moving around campus; 2) have students work together as a team; 3)
introduce students to campus services; and 4) show students were my office is
and the hours I am there.
2. Set up & Supplies A prepared list of activities and places to locate on campus. A
copy of the list of activities should be provided for each student, not just each
team. Do a run through of each activity yourself to make sure its relevant to
your goals and doable for the students. Think of a reward for completing the
activity. I used one NQA (no questions asked) coupon as the reward for each
student who participated.
3. Directions Students were to answer the questions in any order they wanted.
Students would not be rewarded if there were any reports of misconduct.
Students must return to class after the activity. Students were rewarded if they
completed the activity and had the correct answers.
4. Conclusion This activity met the goals I wanted to achieve. It clearly got
students up and out of their seats moving around and working together in
teams. All students who participated can find my office and know how to
contact me. New students became more familiar with ECC and from the
comments on the surveys it was a useful activity for even the returning
students. One second year student told me that she didn't think it would be
helpful, but found out afterwards that it was. It also made me (a relatively new
professor) much more familiar with the campus resources and services.
What worked well? It was both fun and valuable for the students. This activity
demonstrated the importance of team work. It showed students that our college has
many services available to them to help them succeed.
What would you change? I ran this activity, 6 weeks after school started. I would run this
activity the first or second week of the class. One student said that they liked the
activity at this point (6 weeks into the semester) but, most students thought it should be
run earlier in the semester.
I did not run it as a race this first time through. I needed an idea of how long it would
take students just to find and do all the items on the list. I wanted the students to take to
time to actually find the buildings and perhaps set up an appointment at some of the
services. Next time, I would try it as a race to see if the students enjoyed it even more,
but still thoroughly completed the list. As a race, I would create only one reward for the
first place team and have a clear set of rules.
I ran this activity at the beginning of class, because I wasn't sure how long it would take
students to finish. Next time, I would run it at the end as I found it hard to get the
students to settle down and concentrate on their lab after running around campus.
Students were given 15 questions and it took about 1 hour for them to complete the list.
I would further change some of the questions to be more pertinent to my classes
(Oceanography and Geology). For example, have them find call number in the library
for a scientific journal or Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Find the rock garden near the
Life Sciences Building etc.
Would you use the activity/strategy again? Why or why not? Yes, I definitely would run this
activity again. The students really enjoyed it and learned about campus resources and
services that they can easily use to further their own student success.
Please describe any student learning outcomes/changes that you observed after the
implementation of the activity/strategy. I noticed students working together and
supporting eachother. Many of the students felt more familiar with their campus and its
services. At least five students said to me they wish they had done this activity a year
ago when they first came to El Camino. Two students said that they would be taking
advantage of the tutoring in the tutoring center (one of the items on the list) that is
available to them as a result of this activity.