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:
- How GPS devices work and applications of GPS (coordinates, mathematical calculations, etc.) - simple caches can be hidden around school
- 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
- Locationless caching (without the use of a GPS - a good variant if cost is an issue)
- 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
1 comment:
The application of geocaching in the classroom, definitely brings the elements of a game into learning. In this sense, I feel it would be a great motivator for kids and also interactive. Both of these aspects I think make learning stick. I wonder with the cost of this technology if this would really be mainstreamed into schools, especially on the elementary level?
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