Classroom Applications

Now that we understand the basics of geocaching (and the YouTube links were quite helpful...scroll down to a previous post if you didn't get a chance to peruse), I decided to research a bit on how this "hide and seek" game can be adapted for more educational purposes.

Look in your WebCT to read the relatively short journal article entitled: "Hide and Seek: GPS and Geocaching in the Classroom", by Lynn Lary. Due to copyright issues, I emailed it to all of you.

Below is a list of some of lessons that can be taught in relation to geocaching:

1. How GPS devices work and applications of GPS (coordinates, mathematical calculations, etc.) - simple caches can be hidden around school
2. Multi-site cache - find the first set of coordinates and then answer a question correct to get to the next set of coordinates, and so on
3. Locationless caching (without the use of a GPS - a good variant if cost is an issue)
4. Travel Bugs - particularly good for elementary school teachers

As seen in this article, geocaching does in fact have a place in the classroom. It can be adapted to serve a particular audience and it can be incorporated across various subject areas - i.e. math, social studies, science, etc.

Might you be a cacher in your school?

-Kate

Thoughts on the technological revolution...

I've been thinking a lot lately about the intersection of technology, education and community, and have spent considerable time debating the double edged merits of the technological revolution we're all part of.

1. First off, it's obvious to me that every technological device we interact with was designed as a product to maximize profit for a corporation. In other words, all the tools we're falling in love with, including the internet, have on a basic level been designed or co-opted such that we're fixated, addicted, or in need of the specific device so that we buy and support what's being sold. Many of us have gone from a world of needing a telephone, to needing email, to needing a cell phone, to needing a laptop, to needing a BlackBerry, to needing an Iphone and much more along the way. Clearly this "need" is an external stimulus and it wouldn't occur unless someone somewhere tapped into our collective cultural identity and produced that “thing” which we all want. So I'm left with a difficult realization that we can't stop progress - and technology is a great thing to have but it’s also a corporate tool to make profit. The needs of education are often different from the needs of profit.

2. The Ipod is a great tool and Dr. Ross Todd's description of taking the bus in New Zealand is something that I, as a New Yorker who sometimes takes the subway to work, can absolutely relate to. The trouble I'm having when I think about this has to do with a type of technological narcissism that is creeping into everyday life. By this I mean very explicitly that we now live in a world that can be so specifically tailored through technology that we can choose the exact, specific soundtrack (or other form of digital media) to score every part of our lives. Riding to work I can listen to a podcast of NPR, taking a walk at lunch I can surf the web and watch streaming video and on the ride home I can talk on the phone while I listen to my favorite musician. And, because everyone else is doing the same thing I don't have to worry about being offensive or rude.

The problem is not the availability of technology but what this instantaneously gratifying technology does in regard to how we see the world. If I don't like the world around me I can always tune out.

3. So I don't know what the answer to the idea I've posed is, but it leaves me with a very real question about the future of what we call "community" and our roles as educators involved with technology. As I see it, we're not actually getting closer to real human interaction. Instead, each new technology makes us farther apart. A cell phone can never replace a real voice and sometimes the dirtiness of life shouldn't been ignored by listening to the right song.

Teaching uses interpersonal skills to mediate information in a meaningful manner. This is the act of teaching itself. I wonder if technology does something slightly different, which is the technological mediation of information with less and less of true interpersonal involvement. Will our kids be taught by computers someday and, if so, what corporation builds and profits from it?

Watch this!

Hello fellow bloggers...

I realize that sometimes it can be fairly difficult to explain something that can be a bit technical at times. So I found a couple of great clips from YouTube that visually explains how geocaching works.

By watching the videos, I'm hoping that you 'll be able to see the actual process of how this activity works.

Click on the links to see geocaching-related news videos:

1. "Geocaching Fox News"

2. "Geocaching PBS" (this video is more educational and very interesting)

3. "Geocaching Alaska News Story"

Hopefully by watching these video clips, you get more of an insight into this great" treasure hunting" activity. As I make my way up to Maine and NH next month, perhaps I'll get the urge to hunt for a cache - of course, I'd have to get a GPS first!

-Kate

Why not Bookshare?

I was happy to read about this week's discussion topic. As I mentioned in a WebCT discussion post, I had the opportunity this year to work with a 5th grade student who was visually impaired. The year prior to that, one little girl in my 2nd grade class was extremely hearing impaired. Both of those experiences opened up my eyes (and ears!) to the special needs of students.

Bookshare.org provides a wealth of reading materials for those who are print disabled (that term was new to me). My first instinct was to see what exactly is available to students and from there I saw the "Schools and Groups" menu option. It seems that this service is a good option not only for classroom teachers, but clearly for the librarian as well. And...it gives students access to thousands of downloadable books.

Ok, I can't work in public education and not think about the cost. So, for a block of books that are available to all registered staff and students the following fees are incurred:

30 book download - $300
60 book download - $450
100 book download - $600

My first impression is that the cost is a bit on the higher end. Librarians are well aware of the measly budget allotted to them for the annual collection development. However, perhaps this fee can be taken from the computer software budget? Perhaps that can be finagled some way? Or (an I'm already thinking of the possibilities) schools can have book sales, fundraisers, etc.

I searched quickly through what's available at the bookshare.com collection and was impressed by the results - even for younger children. In addition, when you click on a book - you receive helpful book information such as summary, quality, ratings, etc.

If schools look at their student population and determine that there is a need for a service such as this, then they will find a way to provide for their students. In this instance, what better person to initiate this than the librarian. The librarian has the benefit of seeing all students and the responsibility to respond to student needs.

~Kate

Kids and Geocaching

Beatrice had inquired about the connection between geocaching and kids...so I thought that I'd do a bit of investigating - as my initial searches primarily discussed geocaching as being an adult activity.

I came across a website titled "Geocaching with Kids: Activate the Learning Environment". Essentially, it discusses how geocaching can be an activity for kids to participate in as well as adults. The focus of this site explains the significance of finding activities that excite and motivate children.

Again, think of this activity as comparable to a treasure hunt - the treasure is the "cache". As you explore the page, you will come across a list of tools that are needed and/or recommended to find a cache - the most important item is a GPS system - as discussed in my initial post on this topic. However, there are other items worth mentioning as well: notebook/sketchbook, camera, audio/video recorder, etc.

A GPS can look like this:

Geocaching can also be used by teachers as well. Special geocaches can be set up for a class or a small group of students. Implications to think about when planning for this activity can be read on the website.

In addition, scroll through the menu at the top of the webpage to find more information on this topic. I found the FAQs section to be of particular interest.

Finally, if you are interested in searching for a cache in a particular area, please click here and in the top right corner, search by zip code, state, or country.

Enjoy!

-Kate

What in the world is GEOCACHING?

To learn more about my second topic, I visited the most popular geocaching site, which is located at www.geocaching.com.

Geocaching is an outdoor "treasure-hunting", actually a cache hunting, game where players use a GPS (global positioning system) to locate the cache. You may be familiar with GPS as they are now frequently found in cars. Though my 1998 Subaru Impreza does not sport such high-tech features, a lot of newer cars now have the GPS option...and I don't know if any models offer this technology standard.

Anyway, people set up caches all over the world and participants use their GPS to find the items. The cache typically consists of inexpensive objects, such as trinkets - small toys, etc. that are placed in some sort of waterproof container. The cache can literally be anywhere - including some underwater locations!

Once the player finds the cache, he/she is allowed to take a "prize", but they are also asked to leave something for the cache as well. Does this sound easy? Supposedly it's not. It's one thing for your GPS to give you the coordinates and thus an approximate location, but it's another to actually find the cache once you're there.

I look forward to reading and researching more about this topic. For now, after reading my blurb, you may have some specific questions that you're curious to learn more about. If that's the case, visit http://www.geocaching.com/faq/ for answers to some of your questions.

Enjoy!

-Kate