Chapter 5 Discussion

Compare the features and instructional applications of GIS and GPS tools. How can educators use GIS and GPS tools to enhance student learning?

GIS records and maintains large amounts of geographic information which is stored in a database. It can also produce up to date, customized maps as well as, analyze and compare information on different locations. A GPS is a world wide radionavigations system that is available due to satellites and ground stations that are able to calculate positions of anywhere on Earth. It is an excellent tool when you are in an unfamiliar area in town and are attempting to find an unknown destination. I borrowed my sister's Tom Tom which is a GPS device and it helped me a great deal to visit a little town northeast of San Antonio. Needless to say, I had no idea where I was going, but I know that I wasn't lost!

A great activity to implement in the classrooms or even in an after school program is geocaching (world wide treasure hunt). About two years ago, I went to a conference in Austin for 21st CCLC after school program, at my school. Geocaching was on the vendor list to showcase their device. The After School All Stars purchased the GPS devices to utilize in the program and the kids loved it. They designed their own treasure hunts with in the school and later in the neighborhood and community. This was an excellent activity for the intermediate grades in learning latitude and longitude coordinates. They really had a lot of fun with it! We were only able to use the GPS devices that one year, then we had to give them to the other schools so that they could have the same experience of the "hunt."