Contraceptives Scavenger Hunt: An Example of Experiential Learning in a Sexual and Reproductive Health College Class

Teaching sexual and reproductive health in general, and contraceptives in particular, presents instructors with diverse challenges. While instructors need to cover textbook concepts, the classroom setting does not offer much context for a significant, experiential learning opportunity. We have developed and implemented a Contraceptives Scavenger Hunt assignment, designed to facilitate experiential learning and put class concepts into real-life context. Students were provided with three groups of sexual and reproductive health items that were discussed in class (contraceptives for males, contraceptives for females, and other interesting items). They had to choose one item from each group and hunt for it in local stores, pharmacies, sex shops, and so on. They reported on their overall experience and identified barriers they would not have thought of in class (e.g., transportation, cost, ease of access). Variations to this activity, its implications for experiential learning, challenges to its implementation, and its impact on student learning outcomes were discussed.