Here we go again. A new group of students walk into your classroom, eager to learn from you. You’ve worked hard to set up your classroom – both in person and online. You start the first unit and everything goes smoothly (or at least you hope so) and then you realize several of your students have no idea how to turn in your online assignments. This is of course puzzling to you because you know you have showed the class how to do this at least five times throughout the unit. To combat this issue, here’s a solution that may help.
Enter the Virtual Scavenger Hunt
The virtual scavenger hunt can be used for both accountability and skill check for your students. It consists of a series of tasks (you can do as many or as few as you’d like) that gives students the opportunity to navigate your online classroom platform while gaining an understanding of how to access and turn in assignments. Items such as course syllabi, late work request forms and daily agendas can be included along with a simple task requiring students to access these important class items. Science teachers often have to address things like lab safety and lab writeup expectations in their classes and this is an excellent place for students to show they can access these items at any time throughout the school year. This is also a great way to ensure AP students can access College Board’s AP® Classroom resources.
This isn’t only useful for showing access
In courses that require problem solving, students must also know how to turn in work they must complete in written form. In a virtual setting, it is pretty easy for students to work out a problem or work through problem solving techniques on paper or on their desks (students LOVE to write on their desk). A very simple solution is to have students take a picture on their phone or electronic device and upload their work through the online virtual classroom platform. The scavenger hunt is a great place to ask students to do just that – take a photo and embed it in a document.
Use the hunt to get to know your students
With class sizes on the rise, it is taking teachers longer and longer to really get to know their students. Building relationships is one of the most important and helpful concepts in a classroom. The virtual scavenger hunt is also a great way to ask fun questions to get to know your students…and it is a great place to answer those same fun questions so your students can get to know you too.
Get started with your virtual scavenger hunt today
Since the new year is starting for many teachers and students, now is the time to put your virtual scavenger hunt in place. An example is provided for teachers to use in their classrooms. It is easily adaptable for any grade level and in any subject where technology is utilized as a classroom tool. Have fun with it and use it to have fun with your students. Enjoy the school year!
The Samples You Want Without The Wait!
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