Teaching GPS Technology in Nature Education Programs

Fascinated by Richard Louv’s work and his suggestion that technology can be used to connect children to the natural world rather than prevent it I decided to do additional research. I wanted concrete examples of how this could be done since admittedly I have been accustomed to blaming technology for humanity’s break from the natural world. This brought me to Virginia Bourdeau’s article in Camping Magazine. Bourdeau is the Oregon State University 4-H Youth Development Specialist for Camping and Natural Science Education. In her article, she to admits to harboring skepticism towards technology in the past, and was not enthusiastic when her director decided she was going to develop a training program that would teach counselors and campers how to use GPS systems. I was intrigued.

Her program was multidisciplinary, place based (rather than from a book or computer in a classroom), and could be adapted to children of various grade levels. In the activities designed to teach the children she exposes them to science, geography, technology, natural science, and mathematics lessons. To begin, she gives lessons on how to read maps and compasses. This ensures that children understand the information that is in a GPS system. In order to understand satellites she uses a globe and flashlights. The beams, along with a lesson on radio waves and atomic clocks helps the students understand how satellites and GPS units can track. She also teaches them longitude and latitude on topographic maps. Once all the above is understood they move to the outdoors. Once outside they learn how to program waypoints. They work in team activities on natural science projects such as tree identification while learning how to do this. They then use their GPS units in conjunction with software programs to make “you are here” site maps.

Needless to say I am impressed. With Bourdeau children are learning how to use technological tools while they are learning about their natural environment. Rather than learning about nature through representations of nature, they are immersed in it. Additionally, the skills they are learning can be used beyond the educational setting. I wish I would have gone to her camp.

Bourdeau, V. (May, 2010). Teaching GPS Technology in Nature Education Programs. Camping Magazine. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1249/is_6_80/ai_n24216198/