GPS+in+the+Classroom


 * GPS in the Classroom **

The GPS, or Global Position System, is available in many devices from dedicated handheld GPS only devices to smartphones and some newer tablets. A GPS device uses a connection to satellites that triangulate the position for the device in latitude and longitude. We use it to find where we are in our cars and how to travel to new places. We use it to find where we parked our cars. We use it to find places where there are few maps, like hiking trails or fishing spots. Farmers use GPS devices in their farm equipment to make planting and harvesting more efficient. CMCSS's high school students use Vernier LabQuest 2's that have GPS capability. Some of our teachers and schools have purchased dedicated GPS devices to use with their students.

Because it uses satellite data, **it works best outside.** The construction of many of the buildings in our district won't allow cell phones to work properly. Those same buildings will struggle to allow satellite signals to get to the GPS devices.

To help make the most of this technology, we are sharing some ideas for use of GPS devices in the classroom. The listings below are just a few suggestions. There are many others uses that are a Google search away. Unless noted otherwise, the make and model used for the page below is the Garmin eTrex 10. toc

Perimeter / Area
The Garmin eTrex 10 GPS has a tool button labeled "Area Calculation" that will calculate the area of a space by collecting the measurement of the space's perimeter. When the tool is started, the user walks around the perimeter while the GPS tracks their position and turns that into a distance around a space. It does the math to calculate the area of that space.


 * How to Use the "Area Calculation" tool **
 * 1) Turn on the GPS and allow it to finish finding satellites. (Works best outside.)
 * 2) Use the thumbstick to move down to the **Area Calculation** tool.
 * 3) Push the thumbstick in to select. The message will show "Select Start. Then walk around the perimeter of the area you want to calculate."
 * 4) Press the thumbstick in to Start.
 * 5) Walk around the area until you come back to the starting spot. __Do not__ choose Calculate until you have completed your walk.
 * 6) When you complete your walk, press the thumbstick in to select "Calculate". This may take a second to show.[[image:Garmin-AreaCalcDone.jpg width="160" height="260"]]
 * 7) Press the thumbstick in to **save the track** and type the name by selecting the letters from the alphabet screen and DONE. (You also have the option to **change units** to square feet, square meters, acres, hectares, square kilometers, or square miles.)
 * 8) Click the **Back** button on the side of the GPS several times to go back to the main screen.


 * To Compare the Area calculation to the Perimeter measurements **
 * 1) After calculating the area with the tool and returning to the main screen, use the thumbstick to move to the **Track Manager** tool and select.
 * 2) Use the thumbstick to highlight and select the track you saved. The perimeter will show.

GPS and Google Earth
It is possible to upload waypoints, paths, and tracks from the GPS to Google Earth so that additional activities can be done with the data using the computer.
 * 1) Use the USB cord to plug the Garmin GPS into the usb slot on your computer.
 * 2) Open the Google Earth program.
 * 3) Click on Tools in the Google Earth top menu bar.
 * 4) Select and click GPS.
 * 5) Make desired choices in the window that appears and then click Import.

Teachers can create and place caches at specific coordinates and have students input the coordinates and locate the caches. The possibilities are limitless, but teachers might have data or materials located at multiple points that students can use to solve a problem or create a product.
 * Beginning Geocaching**

Waypoints are locations you record and store in the GPS device.
 * Waypoints**


 * Creating a Waypoint**
 * 1) From the main menu, navigate to "Mark Waypoint".
 * 2) Select an option:
 * 3) To save the waypoint without changes, select "Done." This usually reflects the coordinates of the location of the device.
 * 4) To input coordinates, select an item, edit the item, and select "Done."


 * Enter Coordinates**

If students have coordinates that have been provided by the teacher, they will follow the steps below to locate the cache.
 * Note the GPS works best when outside. Use inside a building may cause loss of satellite information.
 * Note that the GPS will give faulty readings if still. It is designed to work best when the user is in motion.
 * 1) From the main menu, navigate to "Where To?". Push the button to select.
 * 2) Navigate to "Coordinates" and select.
 * 3) Enter the specific coordinates using the thumbstick and button.
 * 4) Click "Done" when complete.
 * 5) Click the back button to navigate to the main screen.
 * 6) Navigate to and select "Compass."
 * 7) Use the compass to navigate to the selected coordinates.