GPS Technology in the Classroom and Geocaching

MrYardley — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:26:53 +0000

In my previous article I talked about one of my new favorite hobbies, Geocaching. If you are not sure what geocaching is or how it works please visit geocaching.com for more details. I pondered on how this cool technology could be used with students. I have noticed that my own children’s knowledge of directionality, judging distance, and map skills have significantly increased since we began Geocaching. The challenge with integrating Geocaching into the classroom, is that we are relatively limited in where we can go. I’m quite sure that a bus couldn’t't make it to the places I have been, and the liabilities of taking a fourth grade class climbing up a 30 foot cliff are just a little to great. I think you will find that with a little searching you are likely to find a safe Geocache withing walking distance of of the school. If not you can always create one or two. I have thought about using the concept to create small learning stations scattered throughout our school grounds and then we could do an activity where in small groups students can find the learning stations using a GPS then complete the activities. I also think it would be fun to set up a geocache of our own as a class. to make it interesting for visitors we could include a book of student works such as poems or short stories . As people visit they will leave feedback and comments about your Geocache site that students can check periodically. These are just a few ways I have thought of to integrate GPS and geocaching in my classroom activities next year. Please ad your suggested activities in the comments.

Planning Summer Vactions for teaching

MrYardley — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:33:53 +0000

I have not posted for a little over a week, due to a wonderful vacation in Southern Utah. I saw some amazing landscapes, beautiful wild flowers, and diverse wild life. The first few days off the vacation were spent high in the Rocky Mountains near a small lake. Then we went to Lake Powell where I finally got up on water skis, and jumped of a few cliffs. The red rock canyons of Lake Powell show of millions of years of geological history. On my Vacation I also picked up a new hobby. Geocaching has caught my attention and has become my new passion. Geocaching is the world wide game of hide and seek using a GPS. Little Treasures are hidden throughout the world and using a website people post the location , and using these posting we find locations near where we are visiting and go find the treasure. I’m in the process off developing a plan of how to use this great activity and bring it into the classroom. I will post a few articles over the next few weeks that will give ideas on how to use our vacations and summer experiences in the classroom.

Ed Tech Review » GeoCaching

GPS Technology in the Classroom and Geocaching

Planning Summer Vactions for teaching