History, Handhelds
and Project-Based Learning: Using Geocaching to Understand Community
Acacia Dixon, North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction with Karen Creech and Donna Stewart
Embark on a geocaching adventure using handheld devices
equipped with GPS capabilities, the Internet, and multimedia. While search
and multimedia skills will be beneficial, handouts, templates and additional
resources will be available for those with limited skills in these areas.
PREPARATION
Objectives
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Participants will be able to utilize the handheld computer
as a GPS device.
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Participants will research an area via the Internet.
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Participants will create a multimedia presentation
justifying the selection of a geocache point.
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Participants will be able to adapt the unit model to
fit their own communities and learning environments.
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Participants will be able to adapt the model in ways
that impact student achievement.
Handhelds in Action
This workshop will allow participants to actively use
handhelds equipped with GPS sleeves. These handhelds will be Dell
Axims on a Pocket PC platform. Presenters will have up to 30 handhelds
available for participants to use; attendees will NOT need to bring
their own devices.
ENGAGEMENT
Interactive Agenda
I. Jammin' with Handhelds (1 Hour,
Hands-on)
Basic introduction to handheld operation, GPS functions,
geocaching terminology
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PBS,
NOVA Online: GPS: The New Navigation
Play two interactive games to learn the basics of the Global Positioning
System.
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II. Groovin' around Town (2 Hours,
Hands-on)
Locating points using GPS
III. Feel the Beat (1 Hour, Hands-on)
Using the Internet, research your area and select a location
for a new geocache.
IV. Hitting the High Notes (1 Hour,
Hands-on)
Create a multimedia presentation justifying choice of
location for cache
V. All that Jazz (1 Hour, Presentation
and Discussion)
Presentations, Adapting for classroom use and any community
M&Ms, Skittles, JellyBeans or Lollipops:
Distribute candy to participants. Have a list of reflection statements
or questions prepared and linked to a color of the candy. Each participant
responds based on the color of the candy they received.
Green "I liked..."
Yellow "I disagree with..."
Red "What if ..."
Orange "I wonder why..."
Brown "The real truth is ..."
Pink "I felt..."
Purple "I don't like . . ."
Blue "I don't understand..."
MEET THE PRESENTERS
Presenter Background & Qualifications
All three presenters actively train teachers for the North Carolina
Department of Public Instruction. All three presenters have extensive
experience presenting at either the national, state, or local levels.
All three presenters also have experience teaching both in the public
school system and at the higher education level. Each presenter holds
an Instructional Technology Master's Degree and each has experimented
with geocaching since February 2003. Individual vitae are available
at the following:
More Information
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