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2010 Explore, Experience, Engineer II

Winner    Carrie Halfmann
GPS
2010 Explore, Experience, Engineer  II
Summary
Many times students just don’t understand a concept until they DO or EXPERIENCE it firsthand. Global Positioning System Receivers (GPSR’s) can be an effective and engaging technology tool to help students FINALLY understand some concepts in math, science, social studies, and technology that may have escaped them. Using a GPS unit will allow your students to experience learning in a whole new way.
Geocaching                                                  
Need / Purpose / Goals

Many of today’s students don’t understand the practical uses of math and science in daily and work applications, but using the GPS to find information will give them the opportunity to experience using these skills to solve problems.  All students will be able to participate in these lessons.

Students will be more motivated by the use of the technology to learn all core subjects in GPS searches.  Students will gain a better understanding of math with the use of the GPS system when setting points by using latitude and longitude.

Students will gain a better understanding of science with the use of the GPS system by also using the setting of points on maps with latitude and longitude while mapping found field items.

Students will be able to search for caches and put together clues to solve the puzzle and find the answer.

TEKs are often taught in isolation, but by using exploratory learning with GPS, teachers can effectively embed multiple TEKS within a single lesson.

Students will have extended time to delve into the content using exploratory learning. All students will achieve success as they progress through multiple steps to complete each project.

 
Rationale
· Our campus plan includes the accomplishment of the TEKS addressing latitude and longitude is tested on the TAKS test. Our campus goals also include ways to expose students to technology and careers. We will be doing both with the GPS lessons.
· Board Goal 1: MISD will challenge and prepare all students to obtain post-secondary education.
       District Improvement Plan – An aggregate score of 2300 will be attained by the district in all standardized state exams (reading/ELA, math, science, writing & social studies).
 · Board Goal 2: MISD will close the achievement gaps among all student population groups.
 · Board Goal 4: MISD will meet or exceed the technology standards of the education community.
                                                    
Objectives

Students will become familiar with the uses of GPS systems and how to read and setup maps.

Students will understand latitude and longitude and use problem solving skills to find the caches and resolve problems.

Students will be experience learning while using team building skills, communication skills, and vocabulary skills.  They will be using exploratory learning.

Students must complete all tasks to complete the project and demonstrate their knowledge.

All students will benefit, but especially those in ESL/Newcomers since all the vocabulary they are learning is new to them as well as all students in their group.

These problems will be real world problems, so the students can apply the content learned to actual experiences.

Real world problem solving scenarios will allow students to apply content learned to actual experiences.

Procedures

Students will find caches on the campus that will include instructional clues to solve larger puzzles.  Lesson Examples;Search for a series of points on the GPS, find those points, and problem solve how they are related. Railroad rest stops – GPS track of south Texas hotels that were built to house the railroad workers. Anonymous Animals –track odd animals and map their locations.  Historical Markers in the local area.  Cowboy statues.  Boxes on campus with presidential information to find all presidents.  Hide parts of a Poem and find all and put in order.  See Attached.

Lesson Specifics:

1.     Altimeter –altitude measure              

2.     Latitude and longitude

3.     Barometric pressure

4.     Compass

5.     Mapping

6.     Saving explorations POI

7.     Drawing Maps w/ detail and documentation, to scale, using a compass, measuring with various tools.

 
Project Evaluation

Students will show imporovement on math and science TAKs test. Students will demonstrate technology.

Successful completion of tasks will demonstrate required skills and knowledge.
 

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