Educaching: Integrating GPS Technology with

the CurriculumJason Hubbard

Woodland Elementary Schooljhubbard@perrysburgschools.net • (419) 874-8736

What is GPS?

24 Satellites Total22 Active & 2 in Reserve

3 Satellites needed to find a position on Earth

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

Columbus Caches

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

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

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

Educational Caches• Teachers create educational scavenger

hunts on school grounds

• Examples:

• mathematical problems

• science experiments

• story elements for creative writing

• historical sites

GPS Geometry

GPS Geometry

GPS Geometry

GPS Geometry

length

width

GPS Geometry

Tree ID

Tree ID

Step by Step

• 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

Preliminary mapping

Step by Step

• 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

Setting up the hunt

Step by Step

• Explain the concept

• GPS tutorial - Quick Tips Sheet

• Deliver Expectations -

• The 3 R’s of GPS Etiquette

Preparing the students

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Replace

Step by Step

• 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

Let the hunt for learning begin!

• Debriefing

• Communicate any challenges

• Discuss solutions to problems

• Extension of learning

• Research findings or complete tasks

• Use computers for extended research

• Prepare presentations

Step by StepBack in the classroom

Getting Started

• Do the research

• Communicate the idea for approval

• Acquire the equipment

• GPS- Grants, borrowing, sharing

• Containers - “free”

• Understand the time investment

Resources• Google Earth

• www.geocaching.com

• www.gpsinformation.net

• www.geocacher-u.com

• www.weteachgps.com

• www.educaching.com

Questions?