Geocaching in Geography: Geocaching in Geography:

An Analysis of GPS An Analysis of GPS Receivers as Tools for Receivers as Tools for

Technology Integration Technology Integration into the Middle School into the Middle School

Social Studies ClassroomSocial Studies Classroom

Robert MaybenRobert MaybenCAT 689CAT 689

The University of AlabamaThe University of Alabama

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

• Global Positioning Systems (GPS)Global Positioning Systems (GPS)– Satellite navigation system consisting Satellite navigation system consisting

of 24 satellites maintained by the US of 24 satellites maintained by the US DoDDoD

– Satellites broadcast position and time Satellites broadcast position and time data to usersdata to users

– Handheld GPS receivers compute one’s Handheld GPS receivers compute one’s position on the earth (latitude and position on the earth (latitude and longitude)longitude)

– Accuracy within 30 feet (Christie, 2007)Accuracy within 30 feet (Christie, 2007)

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

• GeocachingGeocaching– High-tech scavenger hunt for GPS usersHigh-tech scavenger hunt for GPS users– Geo = Geography, Cache = ContainerGeo = Geography, Cache = Container– Basic ConceptsBasic Concepts

• Hide the cacheHide the cache• Publish or provide the coordinates and Publish or provide the coordinates and

other clues to other GPS usersother clues to other GPS users• GPS users search for the cache using the GPS users search for the cache using the

coordinatescoordinates• After finding, the users take something, After finding, the users take something,

leave something, and sign the log. (Lary, leave something, and sign the log. (Lary, 2004)2004)

– www.geocaching.com

Geocaching/GPS HistoryGeocaching/GPS History• GPS jamming removed in 2000.GPS jamming removed in 2000.

• David Ulmer hid treasure, published David Ulmer hid treasure, published coordinates, and challenged people to find it.coordinates, and challenged people to find it.

• Eager hunters found the cache and others began Eager hunters found the cache and others began hiding caches and publishing coordinates.hiding caches and publishing coordinates.

• Original name was “The Great American GPS Original name was “The Great American GPS Stash Hunt” but changed to Geocaching within 4 Stash Hunt” but changed to Geocaching within 4 months (Schlatter & Hurd, 2005)months (Schlatter & Hurd, 2005)

• Currently there are approximately 570,000 Currently there are approximately 570,000 active caches in the world active caches in the world (www.geocaching.com)(www.geocaching.com)

Review of LiteratureReview of Literature

• GPS/GeocachingGPS/Geocaching– Emerging Technology (Christie, 2007)Emerging Technology (Christie, 2007)– Lack of empirical research on impact Lack of empirical research on impact

on student achievement (Christie, on student achievement (Christie, 2007; Matherson et al, 2008; 2007; Matherson et al, 2008; Shaunessy & Page, 2006) Shaunessy & Page, 2006)

– Numerous lesson plans & classroom Numerous lesson plans & classroom strategies found onlinestrategies found online

– Helps to engage students in learning Helps to engage students in learning contentcontent

– Real World Activity (Broda & Baxter, Real World Activity (Broda & Baxter, 2003)2003)

Review of LiteratureReview of Literature

• Social Studies & TechnologySocial Studies & Technology– Active & engaged learning Active & engaged learning

environment (Christie, 2007)environment (Christie, 2007)

– Contributes to a constructivist Contributes to a constructivist learning environment (Rice & Wilson, learning environment (Rice & Wilson, 1999)1999)

– Fosters advanced understanding of Fosters advanced understanding of geography (Shaunessy & Page, 2006) geography (Shaunessy & Page, 2006)

Review of LiteratureReview of Literature

• Middle School StudentsMiddle School Students– Desire Change of Pace (Broda & Desire Change of Pace (Broda &

Baxter, 2003)Baxter, 2003)– Beyond the walls increases probability Beyond the walls increases probability

of increase in student achievement of increase in student achievement (Lieberman & Hoody, 1998)(Lieberman & Hoody, 1998)

– Hands-on for adolescent learners at Hands-on for adolescent learners at the concrete levelthe concrete level

– Inspires curiosity for higher-order Inspires curiosity for higher-order thinking skills and multiple thinking skills and multiple intelligences (Broda & Baxter, 2003)intelligences (Broda & Baxter, 2003)

Purpose of the StudyPurpose of the Study

• Determine a correlation between Determine a correlation between GPS use and student GPS use and student achievement in a seventh-grade achievement in a seventh-grade social studies classroom. social studies classroom.

• Examine student perceptions of Examine student perceptions of the GPS receiver as an the GPS receiver as an instructional tool. instructional tool.

The ParticipantsThe Participants

• Three 7Three 7thth grade Social Studies grade Social Studies ClassesClasses

• Approximately 70 participantsApproximately 70 participants

• Convenience SampleConvenience Sample

• Homogenous: Randomly Placed Homogenous: Randomly Placed in Classesin Classes

Research MethodsResearch Methods

• Control Group vs. Experimental Control Group vs. Experimental GroupGroup

• Content presented in regular Content presented in regular classroom format by cooperating classroom format by cooperating teacher (Days 1-3)teacher (Days 1-3)

• Pre-test given to all students to Pre-test given to all students to assess initial learning (Day 4)assess initial learning (Day 4)

Research MethodsResearch Methods

• Experimental Group: Geocaching/GPS Experimental Group: Geocaching/GPS Review Activity (Day 5)Review Activity (Day 5)

• Control Group:Control Group:Review Textbook Worksheets in Review Textbook Worksheets in Class (Day 5)Class (Day 5)

• Post test given to determine Post test given to determine achievement gains and effectiveness achievement gains and effectiveness of the Geocaching/GPS activity (Day of the Geocaching/GPS activity (Day 6)6)

Research MethodsResearch Methods

• Experimental Group: Complete Experimental Group: Complete perceptions survey (Day 6)perceptions survey (Day 6)

• To obtain results:To obtain results:– Statistical Analysis of pre- and post-Statistical Analysis of pre- and post-

test scores of Experimental and test scores of Experimental and Control GroupsControl Groups

– Analysis of Survey DataAnalysis of Survey Data

Results & ConclusionResults & Conclusion

• Yet to be located!Yet to be located!

ReferencesReferences• Broda, H., & Baxter, R. (2003, July). Using GIS ans GPS Broda, H., & Baxter, R. (2003, July). Using GIS ans GPS

technology as an instructional tool. Social Studies, technology as an instructional tool. Social Studies, 94(4), 158-160. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from 94(4), 158-160. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.Academic Search Premier database.

• Christie, A. (2007). Using GPS and geocaching Christie, A. (2007). Using GPS and geocaching engages, empowers & enlightens middle school engages, empowers & enlightens middle school teachers and students. Meridian: A Middle School teachers and students. Meridian: A Middle School Computer Technologies Journal , 10. Retrieved March Computer Technologies Journal , 10. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from 19, 2008, from http://ncsu.edu/meridian/win2007/gps/index.htm http://ncsu.edu/meridian/win2007/gps/index.htm

• Lary, L.M. (2004). Hide and seek: GPS and geocaching Lary, L.M. (2004). Hide and seek: GPS and geocaching in the classroom. Learning and Leading with in the classroom. Learning and Leading with Technology, 31(6), 14-18.Technology, 31(6), 14-18.

• Lieberman, G. A., & Hoody, L. L. (1998). Closing the Lieberman, G. A., & Hoody, L. L. (1998). Closing the achievement gap: Using the environment as an achievement gap: Using the environment as an integrating context for learning. San Diego, CA: State integrating context for learning. San Diego, CA: State Education and Environment Roundtable.Education and Environment Roundtable.

ReferencesReferences• Matherson, L., Wright, V., Inman, C., & Wilson, E. Matherson, L., Wright, V., Inman, C., & Wilson, E.

(2008). Get up, get out with geocaching: (2008). Get up, get out with geocaching: Engaging technology for the social studies Engaging technology for the social studies classroom. Manuscript submitted for publication.classroom. Manuscript submitted for publication.

• Rice, M. L., & Wilson, E. K. (1999). How Rice, M. L., & Wilson, E. K. (1999). How technology aids constructivism in the social technology aids constructivism in the social studies classroom. The Social Studies, 90, 28-34.studies classroom. The Social Studies, 90, 28-34.

• Schlatter, B.E. & Hurd, A.R. (2005). Geocaching: Schlatter, B.E. & Hurd, A.R. (2005). Geocaching: 21st century hide and seek. Journal of Physical 21st century hide and seek. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance, 76 (7), 28-32.Education, Recreation, & Dance, 76 (7), 28-32.

• Shaunessy, E. & Page, C. (2006). Promoting Shaunessy, E. & Page, C. (2006). Promoting inquiry in the gifted classroom through GPS and inquiry in the gifted classroom through GPS and GIS technologies. Gifted Child Today, 29 (4), 42-GIS technologies. Gifted Child Today, 29 (4), 42-53. 53.