empowering student learners with gps - fetc2015
TRANSCRIPT
Empowering Empowering Student Student
Learners with Learners with GPSGPS
Anna Baralt, Ed.D.Anna Baralt, Ed.D.Director of Educational TechnologyDirector of Educational Technology
Shorecrest Preparatory SchoolShorecrest Preparatory [email protected] / Twitter:
abaralt
Presented FETC 2015
What is Geocaching?What is Geocaching? A high-tech scavenger hunt A high-tech scavenger hunt
utilizing the GPS system.utilizing the GPS system. Goal: to locate hidden treasure Goal: to locate hidden treasure
from latitude/longitude from latitude/longitude coordinates found on websites coordinates found on websites such as Geocaching.comsuch as Geocaching.com
Caches Worldwide: 2,543,349 Caches Worldwide: 2,543,349 Estimated Geocachers Estimated Geocachers
Worldwide: over 6 millionWorldwide: over 6 million Logs Recorded in last 30 Days: Logs Recorded in last 30 Days:
over 8 million over 8 million
Geocaching Geocaching EducachingEducaching
Educaching takes the Educaching takes the concept of geocaching concept of geocaching into the curriculum.into the curriculum.
Teacher-led, student-Teacher-led, student-driven hunts using GPS driven hunts using GPS technology, maps, and technology, maps, and other navigational tools.other navigational tools.
Students work in teams Students work in teams to find educational to find educational caches.caches.
Why Use Educaching in Why Use Educaching in Your Curriculum?Your Curriculum?
Promotes active, hands-on student Promotes active, hands-on student participation.participation.
Engages students in real-world tasks.Engages students in real-world tasks. Fosters collaboration and cooperation.Fosters collaboration and cooperation. Encourages problem solving and Encourages problem solving and
decision making.decision making. Increases understanding of mapping Increases understanding of mapping
systems, direction, distance and systems, direction, distance and locations.locations.
Benefits to Students
Why Use Educaching in Why Use Educaching in Your Curriculum?Your Curriculum?
Allows the creation of a student-centered learning Allows the creation of a student-centered learning environment.environment.
Teaching takes place in an authentic, real-world way.Teaching takes place in an authentic, real-world way. Engages the multiple intelligences.Engages the multiple intelligences. Embed learning in a collaborative, social Embed learning in a collaborative, social
environment.environment. Easily integrated across the curriculum.Easily integrated across the curriculum.
Benefits to Teachers
The BasicsThe Basics CacheCache = a hiding place that = a hiding place that
temporarily stores itemstemporarily stores items Educache Educache = an item or = an item or
container hidden for container hidden for students to find that directly students to find that directly applies to their learningapplies to their learning
Waypoint Waypoint = a marked = a marked location that is stored in the location that is stored in the memory of your GPS receivermemory of your GPS receiver
Travel Bug Travel Bug = trackable item = trackable item followed on Geocaching.com.followed on Geocaching.com.
MuggleMuggle = a non-geocacher = a non-geocacher
Educaching Without a Educaching Without a GPSGPS
Can still start Can still start without GPS without GPS receivers.receivers.
Use maps and Use maps and compasses.compasses.
Containers for Containers for caches. Be caches. Be creative.creative.
Getting Started – Getting Started – Travel BugsTravel Bugs
A trackable item.A trackable item. Tracked on Geocaching.com.Tracked on Geocaching.com. Acts like a hitchhiker, moved Acts like a hitchhiker, moved
from cache to cache.from cache to cache. Geocachers log the bug’s Geocachers log the bug’s
movements.movements. Pictures can be uploaded Pictures can be uploaded
too.too.
How Travel Bugs WorkHow Travel Bugs Work
Purchase a Geotag from Purchase a Geotag from Geocaching.comGeocaching.com
Can be given any mission. Can be given any mission. Tie into curriculum.Tie into curriculum. Use Google Earth to Use Google Earth to
record the bug’s travels.record the bug’s travels. .KMZ or .KML files can be .KMZ or .KML files can be
downloaded from website.downloaded from website. Minimal cost to get Minimal cost to get
started.started.
Mrs. Swirly WhirlMrs. Swirly Whirl
This is Mrs. Swirly Whirl. We are 2nd graders in St. Petersburg, FL. Our bug wants to visit the Sears Tower in the state of Illinois. She would like to climb to the top. Please take pictures of our bug on its travels.
Washington, DC
Arlington, VA
SearsTower
Start of the Mississippi
NuggetNugget27, 138 miles
11 States
13 Countries
3 Continents
Our class is learning about geocaching and the seven continents. This is our travel bug Nugget. We want him to travel around the world. Please move him to a new cache.
Following Travel BugsFollowing Travel Bugs Keep a map in classroom or Keep a map in classroom or
on bulletin board in hallway.on bulletin board in hallway. Use .KMZ files to teach how Use .KMZ files to teach how
to use Google Earth.to use Google Earth. Research each location the Research each location the
bug ends up – teachable bug ends up – teachable moments.moments. Pony ExpressPony Express Mount RushmoreMount Rushmore Washington, DCWashington, DC
Keep a scrapbook of photos Keep a scrapbook of photos with write-ups from with write-ups from research.research.
Research SkillsResearch Skills
Third Grade VoiceThread
GPS Webquest
Math & GeographyMath & GeographyIdentifying Foreign Currency & Converting to US
Dollars
Fourth Grade Video
Continent StudyContinent Study
http://aboutasia.wikispaces.com/
2nd Grade Asia Video
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/flags_of_asia.htm
Landforms / Bodies of Landforms / Bodies of WaterWater
TimelinesTimelines
http://www.softschools.com/teacher_resources/timeline_maker/
Inventions Cache – Students used an online tool to create a timeline oftoys. Served as a kickoff for a biography project on famous inventors.
Earth DayEarth Day
Recycling (Essential Questions)
1. What are the 3 steps of the recycling process? (Not the 3 R’s)2. In your own words, what is recycling?3. How much trash is disposed in landfills in the US each year?4. What is special about the design of landfills?5. Name 6 types of trash that can contaminate land, water, or air if not disposed of properly.6. Why must you sort different types of glass when recycling?7. What can be made by recycling high-density polyethylene?8. Name 6 different ways old tires are recycled?9.How can you determine if your can is made of aluminum and recyclable?10. Why are there seven different recycling codes for practice?
Earth Day Cache – Students use selected websites to answer essential questions about recycling, pollution, water, and composting.
BiomesBiomes
Biomes Comic Life Samples
Music and Research Music and Research SkillsSkills
Clue Cards
Jazz Website
Adjective BrainstormAdjective Brainstorm
Find photos in caches, then use mapping softwareto brainstorm adjectivesbefore writing a descriptiveparagraph.
PoetryPoetryFind photos or word cards in caches, then use a word
processor to write haiku poetry.
Other IdeasOther IdeasPhysical Education: PE coaches establish caches across campus. Notes inside the caches require students complete a physical fitness task at each location - curl-ups or partial curl-ups, endurance run/walk, pull-ups or right angle push-ups, and V-sit or sit and reach. These tasks correspond with the The President's Physical Fitness Test.
Collaboration with Younger Students: Have older students work with teachers of younger students to create and hide caches. Then partner the older students with the younger students to teach them how to use the GPS.
Amazing Race & Language Integration: Students wrote challenges in the foreign language they study, hid caches, learned to mark waypoints on the GPS devices, and then used those waypoints to navigate to their challenges.
Tree and Plant Species: Hide caches near different species of native trees and plants. Have students use digital cameras to document their finds. Create slideshows with the pictures and facts from research.
ResourcesResources
Using GPS Wiki http://usinggps.wikispaces.com Using GPS Wiki http://usinggps.wikispaces.com BrainPop BrainPop
https://www.brainpop.com/technology/transportation/globahttps://www.brainpop.com/technology/transportation/globalpositioningsystem/lpositioningsystem/
Book- Educaching: GPS Based Curriculum for Teachers Book- Educaching: GPS Based Curriculum for Teachers http://www.educaching.com/ http://www.educaching.com/
Dr. Alice Christie’s GPS and Geocaching Guide for Educators Dr. Alice Christie’s GPS and Geocaching Guide for Educators http://www.alicechristie.org/geocaching/index.htmlhttp://www.alicechristie.org/geocaching/index.html
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to GeocachingThe Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching by Jack W. Peters by Jack W. Peters ©2004©2004
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