Secondary students are a tough crowd. They’ve seen it all (as they think! 😉), they’re not easily impressed, and keeping them engaged during a school incursion is no small feat. Add in the fact that many schools now ban mobile phones, and the idea of running a tech-based incursion might sound like a no-go. But that’s exactly where Urban Quest flips the script.
Let’s explore how Urban Quest uses technology in a smart, structured way to transform on-campus incursions for secondary students – and why even schools with strict phone policies have embraced this approach.
The Challenge: Engaging Teenagers on Campus
We’ve been running Urban Quest for years, and one thing we know for sure: traditional paper-based excursions just don’t hit the same way with secondary students. That’s why we developed a game platform specifically for this age group. It’s digital, fast-paced, interactive, and taps into exactly what today’s teens respond to – technology with a purpose.
But here’s the kicker: even though the delivery is digital, everything else about Urban Quest is grounded in real-world challenges. Students aren’t sitting on their phones – they’re using them to move, think, collaborate and solve problems.
Why the Tech Works
Our tech-based platform replaces the old-school printed list of tasks with a sleek, interactive game system. Students connect using their own smartphones (most of them have one), which unlocks a new level of engagement. Here’s how:
🔹 One Task at a Time: Instead of getting overwhelmed with a long to-do list, teams see a few available challenges and choose what to tackle next. This reduces confusion and boosts focus.
🔹 Multimedia Clues: Think video clips, audio tracks, photos, and animations. These richer, more dynamic formats make challenges far more immersive than paper ever could.
🔹 Multiple Inputs, Multiple Roles: Some tasks require several answers or clues to be submitted, meaning the whole team must work together. No passengers – everyone contributes.
🔹 Live Scoring: Because everything is tracked in real time, students can see how they’re performing and where they stand in the competition. The energy and urgency go through the roof!
“But We Don’t Allow Phones at School…”
Totally fair. Many of the schools we work with have phone bans in place. But here’s what they’ve realised: making a controlled exception for Urban Quest is not only safe – it’s smart.
The platform is designed so that students are fully immersed the whole time. There’s no room (or interest!) for mindless scrolling or messaging. They’re too busy navigating puzzles, finding hidden clues, racing the clock and laughing with their teammates.
Plus, because students are using their own devices, there’s no need to carry around clipboards or paper – making it neater, faster and more modern. And once the game’s over, phones go away again.
Real-Life Skills, Real-Time Results
Urban Quest is about more than just fun. Every challenge is designed to build:
✔️ Teamwork and communication
✔️ Critical thinking and decision-making
✔️ Leadership and resilience
✔️ Time-management and adaptability
The platform simply allows us to deliver these outcomes in a format that students relate to – and enjoy.
And because the results are tracked live, there’s no waiting around for someone to check answers. The experience is dynamic, streamlined, and easy to fit into a busy school day.
Don’t Just Take Our Word for It
We’ve run tech-based incursions for secondary students across Victoria, including:
📍 Beaumaris College, Beaumaris
📍 Balcombe Grammar, Mt Martha
📍 Buckley College, Essendon
📍 Brauer College, Warrnambool
📍 OneSchool Global, Officer
And many more.
Each one of these schools came to us with concerns about engagement, mobile phone use, and whether it would “work” on campus. They all walked away thrilled with the result.
Don’t believe us? Check out this short video showing students in action – problem-solving, racing the clock and loving every minute.
Final Thoughts
Urban Quest is proof that technology, when used thoughtfully, can be a powerful tool – not a distraction. It can turn even the most skeptical secondary student into an enthusiastic team player. And it can give schools an incursion that actually delivers on outcomes: engagement, collaboration, and fun.
So if your school’s considering an incursion and you’re worried about using phones – talk to us.
We’ll show you how Urban Quest turns screen time into skill-building time.
📲 Contact us and let’s make your next incursion unforgettable.
