Chasing Geese

Well, not literally.

I just decided to use GooseChase scavenger hunts in the library this year. Joining a game is free, and no accounts are needed for students. The free app has been put on all our iPads at my request.

Today was the inauguration of GooseChase research skills. After attending Discovery Education Network Summer Institute (DENSI) is July, I really wanted to try using the GooseChase app with students and staff. The staff has been a hard sell...with the exceptions of a few ultra-competitive people. The staff games (we're on #2) have been team and morale building in purpose.

At first, I wasn't sure how to create one for students. I don't see every class, and my educator edition is limited to 40 participants or 10 teams so an entire school GooseChase, with 2200 students, would be impossible even if I had multiple identical games going at the same time. Then a senior English teacher approached me about a research project. Normally, I take the first research project a class is doing as the opportunity to review databases, citations, ways to avoid plagiarism, and so on. Seniors, however, have already been through that review one, two, or three times. (Not all English classes come to the library for research. Some use devices in the classroom.) What can I do differently to engage them?

A GooseChase Review!

With much thought to the most important skills that would need refreshing, I created six scavenger hunt missions. The intent of each? To remind students of:

• Boolean Search strategies
• Finding the databases
• Using authoritative websites
• Citations
• Paraphrasing/direct quotes

Each table of students was assigned to an already established team. Once they logged in, they could use chrome books for the research and submit the evidence on the team's iPad. Bonus points were available in some of the tasks, but not all. Students were reminded of those bonus points. 

Another thing I did was create a start/stop time for each of the 4 games. (To prevent students from an earlier class logging in on a phone after their class, each block was a separate game with identical teams and missions.) When students finished the missions or time was up, they started their research project individually. Devices were already distributed for the game and it was a seamless transition. This then gave me time to evaluate each team's submissions and to assign the bonus points as earned. For all three classes, those bonus points made the difference between teams.

First block: These students were enthusiastic in learning there wasn't a boring presentation to sit through. All teams participated and submitted several missions but all ran out of time to complete every mission. The main thing they had forgotten? Boolean searching.

Second block: This was an honors class. Some students were less than enthusiastic because they wanted to just get started on the project and not review at all. Interestingly enough, those "jump in" students had the most difficulty with the tasks! 

Third block: This was the competitive class...bonus points were attempted by all teams. Several students had forgotten how to access the databases. Another good reason to review!

Overall, the English teacher and I were pleased with this activity. It will definitely be used again with classes needing a review. The next GooseChase? Analyzing Websites. 

(Although I don't have a class lined up for that one, my philosophy is, "If you create it, they will GooseChase!")