GPS and Geocaching in Education

by Burt Lo

Overview

Read how to incorporate Google Earth, podcasting, and other technology into your classroom. Review nine classroom-tested lesson plans. Engage in an activity for professional development. This book will inspire you and your students to embark on the adventure of geocaching.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781564842756
Publisher:	International Society for Technology in Education
Publication date:	12/15/2010
Pages:	100
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Burt Lo is a technology professional development coordinator with the California Technology Assistance Project. He holds a master's degree in information technology and is a Google Certified Teacher. Lo has experience as a middle school classroom teacher and a teacher of English as a second language, and has presented at many state and national ed tech conferences. Though geocaching began as a hobby for Lo, his love of geocaching soon found its way into his work as he integrated geocaching into the curriculum for a sixth grade outdoor education week and conference workshops for teachers and administrators.

Table of Contents

Introduction

An Introduction to Adventure 1

About This Book 6

Part I GPS and Geocaching 9

Chapter 1 Introducing GPS and Geocaching 11

What Is GPS? 12

What Is Geocaching? 15

A Week of Geocaching 17

Chapter 2 Getting Started: Geocaching Basics for Educators 23

Tools of the Trade: Popular GPS Receivers 24

But I Don't Have an iPhone! 33

The World Wide Web: Finding Caches Near You 34

Geocaches: Size, Type, and Difficulty 41

Into the Great Unknown 48

Chapter 3 Caching Your World: A Quick Tour 49

In Detail: Types of Geocaches 50

The Art and Science of Finding Geocaches 64

The Art and Science of Hiding Geocaches 82

Part II Geocaching in the Classroom and Beyond 91

Chapter 4 Geocaching across the Curriculum 93

Real-World Preparations 94

Five Steps to Get Your Classroom Geocaching 97

Lesson Design 98

Maps That Enhance Geocaching 102

Podcasting Gives Geocaching a Voice 104

Chapter 5 Lesson Plans 105

Beginning Geocaching Lessons 107

Intermediate Geocaching Lessons 117

Enhanced Geocaching Lessons 124

Chapter 6 Geocaching Professional Development 133

Geocaching in Education 134

Sample Worksheet 137

Appendix A Resources 139

Appendix B Glossary of GPS and Geocaching Terminology 143

Appendix C National Educational Technology Standards 151

Standards for Students (NETS.S) 151

Standards for Teachers (NETS.T) 155

Index 159