2014 VSTE Annual Conference

Put on your explorer hat and join the infamous travelling Bread Brothers, Bilbo Boudin Baguette and Royce The Roll, as we use billion-dollar satellite constellations to learn. Just like past explorers, we will rely on the constellation to guide us, but not a constellation of stars; instead we will use the constellation of satellites orbiting our planet. These satellites will help us calculate our exact position on planet Earth, latitudinal and longitudinally, with pinpoint accuracy (pretty-much) to within 15-20 feet! As educators, we seek ways to integrate engaging technology not just in the classroom, but past the brick and mortar, extending learning beyond regular school hours. An educator’s goal is for students to take ownership of their learning and develop both practical and critical thinking skills. Tasking students with a GPS-based activity and a sound lesson plan offers a superior and engaging way to meet this challenge. Authentic methods to infuse learning with GPS activities, an assortment of resources relating to geocaching, and lesson plans and QR Codes will be included. It is our hope you will catch the geocaching bug and set out to create some academically rich geocaching adventures for your students. Geocaching, a location-based treasure hunting activity, is not just an adventure; it’s also an amazing teaching tool! Geocaching gives students benefits far beyond learning outside the classroom setting; geocaching makes learning more enjoyable and creates unforgettable learning opportunities for students. Geocaching, easier to use today than it was a few years ago, is a fun way for teachers to combine the great outdoors with technology and learning. In the past you had to buy special handheld GPS devices to Geocache (which are still very popular), but today there are GSP units in the hands of many students in the form of a smart phone. Through geocaching, students can learn to effectively use their cell phone to build critical thinking skills while engaging in recreational activity. This increasingly popular activity provides a pathway for developing curiosity about geography, math, and science along with any other desired content. In addition, geocaching provides students with opportunities to work collaboratively, solve problems, and incorporate the characteristics of active, engaged learning in a constructivist environment. Because geocaching has quickly become so popular, numerous books and web pages dedicated to geocaching and education are now available making integration of geocaching in education far easier than in the recent past. Finally, Geocaching teaches responsibility and caring for the environment with the geocacher creed of 'Cache In Trash Out’.