Project O'R'I'E'N'T' Using GPS

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Project O.R.I.E.N.T. Using GPS Geocaching to
Explore Environmental Science

• 2008 NCMSA Conference

Powerpoint available at www.bjpenn4h.org/ORIENT.ht
m
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• Outdoor Environmental Education has been great
  for Elementary School students

but Middle School students are not engaged by
the same lessons or methods.
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So what does engage middle school youth?

• Technology
• Connections to the Real World
• Perceived Trust / Freedom
• Social Opportunities
• Challenges / Quests

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Can we turn any of these things to our advantage?

• Technology
• Students become acquainted with handheld
  GPS Units finding locations according to
  latitude and longitude.

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Can we turn any of these things to our advantage?

• Perceived Freedom / Trust
• Students make their own group decisions.
  Instructors are there for safety and support, NOT
  to direct students in where to go or how to
  accomplish a task.

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Can we turn any of these things to our advantage?

• Challenges / Quests
• Students are engaged in geocaching a
  quest to find hidden treasures, using a GPS unit,
  a map, a set of known coordinates, and one's own
  wits.

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Geo-what?

• Geocaching? Geo-cashing?
• Im gettin paid?
• Cash money?
• Woohoo!

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• www.geocaching.com

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• In traditional geocaching, the fun is in the
  search, and once you find the cache there are a
  few trinkets to exchange. Then you head on your
  way.

If this were true in Project O.R.I.E.N.T., wed
have a fabulous geography program, but would have
only scratched the surface of the potential
science
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So rather than trinkets, students find
instructions and equipment leading them to
perform various tasks

• Scientific
• Mathematical
• Team Challenges
• Social Science

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The Result

• A technological scavenger hunt - perfect for
  engaging middle school students - that sends
  groups of 10-12 students exploring deep into the
  forests, streams and natural environs of our 220
  acre campus. Once there, they participate in
  age-appropriate science math explorations.

Project O.R.I.E.N.T. Outdoor Research In
Environment, Navigation Technology
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Project O.R.I.E.N.T.

• Day One
• Morning Travel, Arrival Orientation
• Afternoon Skills Rotations
• Day Two
• Geocaching on site, with science, math and other
  challenges at each cache.
• Day Three
• Further Geocaching
• Afternoon Departure
• Travel Home

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Weve done the setup work, and we have the
facilities staff to provide the program

• But we havent put a patent on it. If you want
  to set up a similar program based from your own
  classroom, heres a few things to think about

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• What Guiding Principles Will You Consider?
• What Base of Knowledge is Necessary?
• How will you Build this Base of Knowledge?
• What Topics Will You Include At Caches?
• What Equipment Resources Will You Need?
• What are the Logistical Details?
• Where Can We Grow From Here?

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A Few of Our Guiding Principles

• We must take advantage of the 220 Acres we are
  blessed with!!
• Teaching students how to use a GPS without also
  increasing their map literacy is plain
  irresponsible.
• We will paint with a wide brush, exposing
  students to a wide range of Environmental
  Sciences, not just one specific area.
• Every student should be involved in group
  decisions, especially when searching for caches.
  
• Our focus must always be on getting students
  excited about science, and excited about the
  outdoors.

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Building a Base of Knowledge

• Knowledge Understanding of Latitude
  Longitude
• Coordinate System

(Including Direction, Minutes/Degrees, etc)
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Building a Base of Knowledge

• Knowledge Understanding of Topographic Maps
• (Including how to find locations using
  landforms lat/long)

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Building a Base of Knowledge

• Knowledge Understanding of Why GPS Receivers
  Work
• (Including satellite system and
  triangulation)

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Building a Base of Knowledge

• Knowledge Understanding of How to employ a GPS
  Receiver
• (Including 4 main Navigation Screens, Mark
  Goto)

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Example Science Topics We Have Pursued

• Plankton Nets Microscope Searches in
  Pond Water
• Classification of Stream Macroinvertebrates
• Forest Mapping
• Wildlife Habitat Checklists
• Stream Flow
• Slope Erosion

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Interdisciplinary Topics We Have Pursued

• Creative Storytelling
• Local Cultural History Landmarks
• Algebraic Puzzles
• Mind-Benders
• Team Challenges

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Equipment Resources

• GPS Units (13 ratio?)
• Maps, Globes, etc for Lat/Long Discovery
• Topos for Cache Location
• Open Spaces for Cache Placement
• Cache Containers
• Specific Cache Contents/Equipment

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Logistical Details

• Where is the area you will use to hide caches?
• How much time do you have to teach the Base
• Knowledge?
• How much actual search time do you have?
• How will you keep track of the caches you have
  hidden?
• What sort of rotation will you use, if you have
  multiple
• groups searching for caches at the
  same time?
• What happens if groups catch up to
  each other?

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Where Can We Grow From Here?

• GPS GIS can be Complementary
• So far, the GPS is used only to locate the cache.
  How do we use it as a tool at the cache?
• Real Data Collection, then manipulation with
  data from other data collectors, especially
  into GIS mapping projects.

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Special Thanks

• A big thanks goes out to the
• Student Science Enrichment Program
• at the
• Burroughs Welcome Fund.
• Who will you be thanking??

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Teacher ORIENT

• A chance for educators to experience Betsy-Jeff
  Penns Project O.R.I.E.N.T.
• May 9-10, 2008 (Friday Saturday)
• Betsy-Jeff Penn 4H Educational Center
• Reidsville, NC
• For more info, visit www.bjpenn4h.org

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Contact Info

• Feel Free to Contact Me with any Questions
• Kevin Moore
• Betsy-Jeff Penn 4H Education Center
• 336-349-9445
• kevin_moore_at_ncsu.edu
• www.bjpenn4h.org
• This Powerpoint is available for download at
  www.bjpenn4h.org/ORIENT.htm