Educaching Presentation
- 2. Educaching: Integrating GPS Technology with the Curriculum Jason Hubbard Woodland Elementar y School jhubbard@perr ysburgschools.net • (419) 874-8736
- 3. What is GPS?
- 4. 24 Satellites Total 22 Active & 2 in Reserve
- 5. 3 Satellites needed to find a position on Earth
- 6. What is Geocaching? • High-tech form of Hide-N-Seek • cache - “hidden” • Catalogs over 700,000 caches worldwide • There are over 12,000 caches in Ohio alone! • http://www.geocacaching.com
- 8. Types of caches Some caches are informative in nature: Virtual Caches - Historical markers and information plaques Earthcaches - Geologically interesting spots Puzzle Caches - Crack the code to continue Multi-Caches - Problem solving involved
- 9. Why use GPS in the classroom? • Students are moved beyond the four walls into an environment that is challenging, integrative, and exploratory. • GPS captures the thrill of the hunt for learning • Teamwork, problem-solving, decision making, critical thinking easily addressed
- 10. Why use GPS in the classroom? • Promotes spatial awareness and learning • Provides visualizations which are a powerful way to understand problems, identify solutions, and discover the unexpected • Innovative way to place technology into students’ hands • Augments student communication locally and globally
- 11. Educational Caches • Teachers create educational scavenger hunts on school grounds • Examples: • mathematical problems • science experiments • story elements for creative writing • historical sites
- 12. GPS Geometry
- 13. GPS Geometry
- 14. GPS Geometry
- 15. GPS Geometry width length
- 16. GPS Geometry
- 17. Tree ID
- 18. Tree ID
- 19. Step by Step Preliminary mapping • Find locations on the school grounds...look for “Easter egg” spots • Draw a sketched map of the area or use Google Earth • Save waypoints of each cache • Mark general hiding spots on your map
- 20. Step by Step Setting up the hunt • Take any lesson plan • Create clues for students to find in order to learn the lesson • Acquire containers for your clues • Hide containers for the hunt
- 21. Step by Step Preparing the students • Explain the concept • GPS tutorial - Quick Tips Sheet • Deliver Expectations - • The 3 R’s of GPS Etiquette • Respect • Responsibility • Replace
- 22. Step by Step Let the hunt for learning begin! • Group students into cooperative teams • Distribute tools...receivers, clipboards, “field” sheets, cameras (optional) • Set boundaries for the hunt • Release students for the hunt • Return to the classroom for debriefing
- 23. Step by Step Back in the classroom • Debriefing • Communicate any challenges • Discuss solutions to problems • Extension of learning • Research findings or complete tasks • Use computers for extended research • Prepare presentations
- 24. Getting Started • Do the research • Communicate the idea for approval • Acquire the equipment • GPS- Grants, borrowing, sharing • Containers - “free” • Understand the time investment
- 25. Resources • Google Earth • www.geocaching.com • www.gpsinformation.net • www.geocacher-u.com • www.weteachgps.com • www.educaching.com
- 26. Questions?