Geocaching in the K-12 ClassroomKristin Hokanson & Chris ChampionRegional Directors, PAECT

Where’s Waldo?GeoTag! You’re It!

What You’ll Learn Today

What is a GPS? How does it work? What’s a Geocache?

OK, this is fun, but how does it work in school?

Geocaching in School

Geotagging and Global Information Systems

SURPRISE Grant Opportunity

What is GPS?

(Geocachers correctly call this a GPSr, or

GPS receiver)

http://flickr.com/photos/gravitystorm/2189744333/

http://flickr.com/photos/glindsay65/81770946/

http://flickr.com/photos/chibirashka/3056356274/

http://flickr.com/photos/axsdeny/2735773333/

How does it work?

24 USAF Satellites

Atomic clocks

Einstein (no joke)

Compare the time received

Geometry: trilateration

3 or more satellites needed(3-D trilateration)

http://flickr.com/photos/aburt/305012511/

Making sense of Latitude & Longitude

A day on the Trail..

Where in the world am I?

Latitude 40.290602

Longitude: -76.66984

http://www.batchgeocode.com/lookup/

What is a Geocache?

Container hidden - owner recorded the GPS location

Simplest: a container with a logbook

Larger: room for “trade” items

http://flickr.com/photos/d0/119081245/

Sample Cache #1

Brownstone Ghost Train Car No. 3

paved walking trail

about 1/2 way up the hill

train theme (photos and music on website)

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=36180

Sample Cache #2

Ant’s Cache

next to soccer fields

open area, not too many hiding spots

satellite view hints to location

http://flickr.com/photos/randysonofrobert/1806550557/

Sample Cache #3

McKaig’s Scenic Simion

Located in a park adjacent to Roberts Elementary School (King of Prussia)

*You can create a cache at your school without having it listed on Geocaching .org

Right in your backyard

Hiding a Cache

“Official” or just for you/your students use?

Container & Log

Permission?

Geocaching Label

Urban vs. Forested

Triple-Cache Container Set @ http://shop.groundspeak.com/

a FEWEducational Benefits

Reading latitude and longitude

Map skills

Using a compass

Research

Cross-curricular connections

Math

Science

Physical

Literature

Creating a Geo-LessonResources Already Out There:

Dr. Alice Christie's GPS and Geocaching Guide for Educators ( www.alicechristie.org )

EduCaching: A GPS-based Curriculum for Teachers ( www.educaching.org )

Londonderry School, Harrisburg ( www.thelondonderryschool.org )

GroundSpeak Forums - GPS in Education

Curriculum-themed Caches

Hide several curriculum-related items

Students categorize, reflect, compare, contrast

Solve a puzzle

Math equations

Theme Caches

Create caches that explore numeracy. (User: Geometry)

Participate in projects that help students collaborate with others around the world (Degree Confluence Project)

39°S 64°W

http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?visitid=15746

Theme Caches

Create a cache that explores issues in environmental education. (The Evil Green Menace!)

Create a cache that explores health issues. (Heart to Heart)

Cache In, Trash Out!

A “selling point” when placing a cache in a local or state park

CITO Events are held regularly

Many Earth Day events (April 22) http://www.geocaching.com/CITO/

Travel Bugs

“Trackable” Item on Geocaching.com

Visitors to a cache grab the Travel Bug and move it along to another cache

Your travel bug is logged each time it’s grabbed and each time it’s placed in a new cache

Travel Bugs

Geocoins & other Trinkets

Collectable and tradable items

Geo-coin festival was in Pittsburgh this past year

Caching Kit

How do I get started? Build an account on www.geocaching.com

Search by city, zip code, state, driving route, etc. (I usually search by zip code.)

Record the latitude and longitude coordinates and read the hints!

Logging a cache

Mapping by Latitude & Longitude

What is geotagging?

Geotagging, sometimes referred to as Geocoding, is the process of adding geographical identification metadata to various media such as websites, RSS feeds, or images.

Data usually consists of latitude and longitude coordinates, though it can also include altitude and place names.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geotagging

Geotagging in Flickr

Google maps

Google Latitude

Other ResourcesTalk to other GeoCachers

http://belardi.wikispaces.com/Geocaching

Discovery Educator Network: Geocaching day March: Check DEN Blogs for more info

http://keystones.wikispaces.com/geocaching

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

Geocaching Seminars

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

June 19: MCIU

Geocaching Seminars

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

June 19: MCIU

June 23: Lincoln IU

Geocaching Seminars

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

June 19: MCIU

June 23: Lincoln IU

July 7: IU 1

Geocaching Seminars

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

June 19: MCIU

June 23: Lincoln IU

July 7: IU 1

July 14: NW TriCounty IU 5

Geocaching Seminars

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

June 19: MCIU

June 23: Lincoln IU

July 7: IU 1

July 14: NW TriCounty IU 5

July 14: NEIU (19)

Geocaching Seminars

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

June 19: MCIU

June 23: Lincoln IU

July 7: IU 1

July 14: NW TriCounty IU 5

July 14: NEIU (19)

July 15: Blast IU (17)

Geocaching Seminars

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

June 19: MCIU

June 23: Lincoln IU

July 7: IU 1

July 14: NW TriCounty IU 5

July 14: NEIU (19)

July 15: Blast IU (17)

July 17th: Allegheny IU

Geocaching Seminars

Wanna give it a try?

Geocaching.com Demonstration

June 19: MCIU

June 23: Lincoln IU

July 7: IU 1

July 14: NW TriCounty IU 5

July 14: NEIU (19)

July 15: Blast IU (17)

July 17th: Allegheny IU

July 21st Schuylkill IU

Geocaching Seminars

Grant Opportunities

Trainings are a Keystone / PAECT Sponsored Event

Free for Keystones

Free for PAECT members http://paect.org

$4,000 in GeoCaching Grant revealed at each training.

PAgeocaching@gmail.com

Act 48

Session Number: KL17

Session Title: Where's Waldo? GeoTag! You're It.

Act 48 Code: KL171679