Presented By: Mia Sullivan, Pennsylvania State University
Co-Authors: Daniel Foster, Pennsylvania State University
OP McCubbins, Mississippi State University
Kasee Smith, University of Idaho

When intentionally connected to purposefully planned high impact experiences for undergraduates studying food, fiber and natural resources, mobile educational technology can increase the return on investment for anchoring targeted learning outcomes. This study shares the perspectives of faculty from three institutions in utilizing an interactive scavenger hunt application based on learning outcomes for two cohorts of students across two immersion experiences in Fall 2023. Faculty utilized Goosechase to create a space for learners' autonomy and voice in documenting evidence of achieving learning outcomes as they engaged in the immersive learning experience, providing tangible, relevant evidence of their learning. Faculty will share strategies for integration across multiple contexts to harness different motivational theories to achieve different interpersonal skills to advance capacity for preparing to work as members of an interconnected, global workforce. The learning strategy was utilized in two immersion programs: 18 lower division undergraduates from six institutions at an international food security conference, and 24 upper division students from three institutions at a national professional meeting. Lessons learned included the framing of group or solo missions, utilizations of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation structures, and maximizing connections to other external partners were critical. Recommendations for future implementation include testing the benefit of opening involvement to additional institutional partners and exploring an enhancement activity of challenging participants to design the missions for the next cohort of students to complete in the following year as a capstone reflection activity.