Course GPS in the Classroom

Presenter Cathy Ilkka and Rick Bell

Explore the world of latitude and longitude and how to bring it into your classroom. Aimed at the beginning user of global positioning technology, this workshop will explore GPS technology and the exciting adventure of geo-caching, plus offer ideas for how to use geo-caching with students. We will spend half of our time in the classroom and the other half outside using GPS receivers. If you have a GPS receiver, feel free to bring it. If you do not have a unit, one will be provided for you during this session. Please dress ready to spend time outside in Minnesota!

Outline of the class:

• Introduction-how to use GPS in the classroom
• What is GPS (clip)
• Sample lesson (documents)
• Discovering the Garmin GPS units
• Finding the waypoints (outside!)
• Introduction to Geocaching (clip)
• Conclusion

Sample lessons:

 http://sciencespot.net/Pages/classgpslsn.html

(I found this sciencespot site to contain the best lesson plans)

http://www.gis2gps.com/GPS/gps.html

http://www.chicos.caltech.edu/classroom/GPS/GPSActivity1.html

http://www.chicos.caltech.edu/classroom/GPS/GPSActivity2.html

http://technology.usd259.org/resources/TreeIndentification-Tabor7-12.pdf.pdf

(Lesson Planet requires an account-you can get a free trial)

http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=gps+lesson+plans&rating=3

Garmin GPS unit information:

(Garmin Summit specs)

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=143#specsTab

http://sciencespot.net/Media/GPSGarminTips.pdf 

Helpful GPS teaching websites:

http://wiki.ties.k12.mn.us/3001

(Brain Pop requires an account-sign up for a free trial) 

http://www.brainpop.com/technology/transportation/globalpositioningsystem/ 

http://www.idesktop.tv/#global%20positioning%20system 

http://educaching.com/educaching.html

http://geocacher-u.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/ 

http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.shtml

Helpful geocaching sites:

www.geocaching.com 

http://www.geocaching.com/press/ (in the news) 

http://www.eduscapes.com/geocaching/kids.htm

http://www.waymarking.com/

http://blip.tv/file/157033/  

GPS games:

http://www.gpsgames.org/

GPS in Action 

http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits/technology/pr_finding_solving.html

Grant information:

http://www.gis2gps.com/grantinfo/grantinfo.htm