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The Groundhog

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    GPS and geocaching in science teacher education

    in College

    Posted

    Greetings-

     

    my name is Bud, and I am a professor of science education at the University of Colorado Denver. I'm not (yet) an avid geocacher, but I am an avid user of GPS in hiking, amateur radio (call W0RMT), and in map-making. Recently I've been using GPS to track our field trips in the elementary science methods course (for prospective elementary teachers, as the name implies). I'd like to incorporate the use of GPS more deeply into this and other science methods courses. We offer many field experience courses at the Master's level, and individual student use of GPS would fit nicely into their course work.

     

    To that end, I'm getting ready to order about 10 more GPS units (eTrex Legend H- we have 5 already). I am envisioning students using these to track their hikes and then use the output file as the basis for a geospatial diary (with embedded geo-referenced images, videos, field notes, etc). But it occurred to me that geocaching would also be a nice use in the course since it seems that many teachers use geocaching with their students. And earthcaching specifically would be a great addition to our field trips. I could even build that into the above mentioned use by planting my own caches for students to find on our field trips, etc.

     

    So my question for the geocaching education community is this: What would you want/expect a beginning teacher (elementary or secondary) to know about GPS and geocaching in order that they can incorporate this technology and activity into their teaching? Specifically, what skills and dispositions would they need to have, and what would this look like in their practice?

     

    Thanks for your time.

     

    73 Bud

    W0RMT

    Louisville, CO

     

    Hi Bud!

    Check out the Educaching curriculum, specifically GPS Club, which teaches teachers and students the basics of mastering geocaching in education. Written by a teacher for teachers!

    -The Groundhog

    Educational Geocaching

    in Education Archives (Read-Only)

    Posted

    I am currently looking for introductory level (middle-high school) GPS/geocaching lesson plans, so when I viewed your reply I thought I might see If you could possibly supply information on the lesson plans you found on the web? Or point me in the right direction to other sources?

     

    thanks

     

    lisa

     

    Hi Lisa,

    Check out educaching.com for a 4-8 grade curriculum that's all-inclusive, easily adapted for high schoolers!

    Gps Grants?

    in Education Archives (Read-Only)

    Posted

    I recieved a grant from Toyota Tapestry for $2,500 to purchase GPS units. Although it may not work as another Tapestry grant, it could work at another corporation. I can give you a copy if you're interested.

     

    Gingi,

    Can you send me a copy of the Toyota Tapestry grant you wrote? It would be very helpful. Thanks!

    Geocaching In School?

    in Education Archives (Read-Only)

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    I agree that there might be problems with kids finding caches as a class and then mucking them up, but I think the experience of doing the geocaching would be invaluable and would outweigh the problem. As a Director of Programs and Student Services of a school board (like Assistant Superintendent in the US) I am all for doing this, and we have a project for Earth Day that is a "Cache in, Trash out" simplified GeoCache exercise - the kids will go to a spot along a waterway and find a cache of garbage bags and trash their way out to school.

    Information on it: here

     

    GeoCaching in general, especially when connected with mapping and even Google Earth and digital maps/photos, is just too good as a hands on, minds on, educational exercise to miss!

     

    Can I get the information on the Earth Day activity? I'd like to try it this school year, but the link would no longer work. Thanks!

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