Intercultural Activity Toolkit: ELI Orientation Activity – Scavenger Hunt

Activity Information
Recommended Audience	International Students, ESL
Length of Time	1 hour to 2 hours with debriefing session
Resources	See Description
Number of Facilitators	See Description
Source of Activity	Nancy Centers
Purpose	See Description

ELI Orientation Activity – Scavenger Hunt

Directions: In small groups, you will explore the campus and bring back important information about Roger Williams University. In order to be able to answer the questions, you will have to ask people around you for help getting the information you need.

1. Look at the list of questions and determine where you will need to go, using the campus map. You should write brief answers to the questions and at the end of the activity, meet in Stonewall in the ELI Computer Lab.
2. Student Union: visit the Campus Entertainment Network in the Student Activities Office. Find out what kind of events are offered for students. Write down 2 events that you are interested in. Get a schedule of events for Spring Semester, if you can.
   Event:
   Event:
   
3. Student Union Snack Bar: visit the snack bar area. Find out how many different kinds of food are served there, including international food. Bring back information about any “specials” available, and write down you favorite fast food and the cost.
4. University Library: Find the statue of Roger Williams and ask a librarian on the first floor how to find information about this famous person? Who was he? What kind of reference materials can you use. List two sources of information, and tell us what you learned about Roger Williams.
   Source:
   Source:
5. Center for Academic Development: find out about the tutoring service that are available in Writing, Math and Core classes. Ask how to request a tutor, and the hours of operation (when they are open). What is the name of secretary?
6. Public Safety: Find out what kind of service is available for students who want to go to go off campus to go shopping, to see a movie, for example. Find out the schedule for the University Shuttle Service and where to go take the Shuttle. Bring back a schedule if possible. What is the name of the Officer you talked to?
7. Paolino Recreation Center: Go to the Center and find out what kinds of activities and facilities are available to students. Choose an activity you are interested in and ask for information about it (basketball games, hours for working out, etc.)
8. Intercultural Center: Ask Rita how many international student from your country are currently studying at Roger Williams University.
9. College of Business Computer Lab (2nd Floor): Go to the Computer Lab Help Desk and find out when you can use the Computer Lab. What are the rules? What computer equipment and programs can students use there?
10. Health Services Office (Student Development Building 2nd Floor) Go to the office and find out what the hours of operation are. Ask what services they have and how you can see a nurse or doctor if you are not feeling well.
11. About Bristol, Rhode Island and RWU: Ask anyone!
    1. What is the largest event held every summer in the town of Bristol that thousands of people come to see?
    2. Where can you find the Post Office in Bristol?
    3. Which RIPTA bus will take you to Newport or Providence?

Program Development Timeline: 6 weeks

Budget: Minimal costs included photocopies of the activity = $10.00
Colored pencils and ink stamps = $10.00* (optional)

Other offices incurred little to no expense; many of the “treasures” were existing publications or for example a student activities calendar which was donated. Many items were already printed for the Orientation Programs throughout the summer.

 

Advertising /Communication Methods: By email and by phone we contact campus offices to ask their cooperation and alert them to anticipate small groups of students visiting their offices or work areas. We select different or new offices/services depending on the clearance from University staff.

Lessons Learned: After doing this for the third semester, continuing students were a bit bored. We decided to give those students the role of group leaders so they were helping the new students, not actually doing the same activity themselves. We changed a few of the locations and gave them a more firm time limit and in some cases they had to get signatures to prove they had actually done the footwork! We noticed a few students who clearly “cheated” and so at the meeting in the afternoon we found it necessary to debrief the whole group. We asked each group to report on what they learned, to “show and tell” if they had collected treasures like glossy brochures, pens, or other items of interest.

This coming Fall I am including brief stops at the Career Center, the Student Advocate Office, and the newly opened Recreation Center. In the spring, when the weather is not cooperative, this activity is shortened considerably. Many international students are concerned about “catching cold” and resist trekking across campus when it is bleak and chilly, so we did a little map exercise in the classroom using the Scavenger Hunt list: “Where can you go to ______? Where is that office located and how can we get there from here? The continuing students lead this activity.