GPS (Global Positioning System) in the Classroom

Why should I use GPS units in the classroom? How will they enhance education?

GPS is an emerging technology that teachers are just starting to tap in to. The educational promise of GPS includes integration with social science, science, mathematics, language, cultural competence and more. Teachers can use GPS instruction to foster critical thinking skills and the value of learning. GPS instruction engages multiple intelligences and can be an effective tool to promote exploration and discovery learning.

What does using GPS in the classroom look like?

GPS units are used for location, navigation, measurement, tracking, mapping, and timing. Locations can be on school grounds or on a field trip. Students can navigate to or from locations using the GPS. A GPS can be used to make fairly accurate measurements outdoors. Logs in the GPS offer numerous data collection options.

A location can also have a geocache--a hidden treasure. Since a GPS gets the user within 50 feet of a geocache, a clue is needed to find the actual cache. The writing of clues can include riddles, math problems, puzzles, or scavenger hunt style clues that foster critical thinking.

Handheld GPS units are as easy to use as most cell phones. Many units will interface with a computer to eliminate the busy work of plugging in coordinates. GPS coordinates can be uplooaded or entered into Google Earth and other GIS programs.

As with any new technology, the teacher can learn right alongside the students thereby modeling exploration, discovery, and lifelong learning.

Possible Student Products Generated with GPS

1. • Map of School Grounds
   

2. • Google Earth Overlay or Placemark
   

3. • Local Maps
   

4. • Wetlands
   

5. • Dumps
   

6. • Historical Sites
   

7. • Structurally Deficient Bridges
   

8. • Government Locations
   

9. • Geological Features
   

10. • Geometric Figure Rendered On Graph Paper and On a Field at School
    

11. • Signpost to Places in the World with Arrows, Place Names, and Distances
    

12. • GPS route to any point.
    

13. • Journal entries regarding GPS activities.
    

Possible Student Performance Tasks Related to GPS

1. • Geocache Treasure Hunt
   

2. • Find a location
   

3. • From Coordinate
   

4. • From Map (generate coordinate)
   

5. • From Google Earth or other software
   

6. • Make a location for others to find
   

7. • Solve riddles, puzzles, math equations etc. to get clues.
   

8. • Compare and contrast GPS navigation with Ded(uctive) Reckoning, Map and Compass, and Orienteering.
   

9. • Measurements
   

10. • Point to point
    

11. • Perimeter/area
    

12. • Elevation
    

13. • Tracking
    

14. • Plot grid points
    

In addition to the above ideas, GPS can be integrated with any field trip and may make management easier on the bus as students are counting down the distance and ETE. Units can be collected and redistributed as needed at a field trip site so that the temptation to play around is eliminated during times that good listening or participation are required.