A Novel Scavenger Hunt Activity for Increasing Student Engagement in Cryptography Coursework

Abstract As the realm of cybersecurity grows increasingly critical, imparting the knowledge of computer system security particularly cryptography to students is paramount. This paper presents an innovative approach to this endeavor through the integration of scavenger hunt, uniquely tailored to transcend the boundaries of traditional teaching. Unlike conventional methods which are predominantly introduced during high school or incorporate a single intricate puzzle for participants to solve, this paper emphasizes practical application over theory, improving the way students grasp complex concepts and retain them. In this work, students collaborated in groups to engage in an ``Capture the Flag" style scavenger hunt, conducted through the platform of Google Earth. Throughout the activity, they were actively encouraged to leverage a wide array of online tools, encompassing resources such as usage of large language models such as ChatGPT and various others, to collaboratively solve the questions. During the exercise, students encountered encrypted messages at various stages and to progress in the activity had to apply cryptographic principles to decipher these messages. The proposed practical application of cryptography involved tasks like decrypting codes, solving puzzles, or using ciphers to reveal clues led them closer to the final challenge. By introducing scavenger hunt at the intersection of computer system security education, we open a gateway to experiential learning that is engaging, interactive, and fun. This approach was also compared with a research-centric group project that delved into establishing secure methods for cyber-physical systems. The study indicates that a majority of students (77.4%) viewed the Capture the Flag Scavenger Hunt as a highly valuable learning experience.