Being mobile
As technology has become smaller and more portable our business, and indeed learning, has also become mobile and, to some degree, personal. Devices that can fit in our pocket might be able to tell us the time, help calculate whilst on the move, communicate with others and with Global Positioning System available on many devices we can now use maps and positional data to know where we are at any one time.
So why use GPS on mobile devices?
For many reasons - such as:
- capturing images of places visited and sharing with peers
- to download maps for field trips or visits to local town
- collect data in the field and transfer to a central database via GPS
- create or use a geocache (treasure hunt) in local countryside or nearby open area
- wireless tourist guides to areas of local interest
- adding location information or geotags to uploaded photos during a field trip
BBC On-Click looks at the age of augmented reality - where bionic contact lenses could provide us with positional data as we move around a town - like a guidebook at a blink of an eye. Spencer Kelly talks in the On-Click video about some of the latest sat-nav technology and demonstrates pedestrian GPS using a Samsung Q1 Ultra.
The idea of geocaching is becoming increasingly popular. The high-tech treasure hunts can be carried out in almost any terrain, the basic idea is to use GPS to locate hidden containers (called geocaches). You sign the logbook, leave or replace an item with another item. Naturally, this is all done outdoors. The Official Global GPS Cache website can help you find a geocache near you. Some geocache trails might be easy without obstacles, some with rivers and other, more dangerous, terrains.
Why not join the geocache community and experience one in this country or abroad?
Experience Geocaching in Warwickshire
You could encourage learners to create a local geocache, therefore develop their geographical awareness as well as an understanding of positional co-ordinates and direction.
''One of the greatest assets of mobile learning is that it allows you to bring the learning experience into the “real” world - making the whole world an “excursion,” or real-life learning experience that is, in fact, bigger than a book, computer screen or classroom. To learn about an arboreal ecosystem, while walking in a forest; to have relevant learning materials at your fingertips in a real workplace; or to learn about art in a gallery… this is one of my visions for utilising mobile learning for its strengths."
Leonard Low, Educational Technology Strategist and mobile blogger
GPS has been used for learning in various ways. WildKnowledge uses the full functionality of a handheld device (audio, video, text, and GPS) where on-location data is captured on field trips, treasure hunts or quiz trails. View a WildMap demonstration and all their products at the WildKnowledge website.
And if spotting birds is a favourite pastime why not use the RSPB WAP site to access a bird identifier database - you'll find a mobile WAP link there. This is a great activity to engage a Family Learning group where the children can be encouraged to listen to the sounds of birds around them.
MediaScapes are a fantastic way to use GPS imaginatively, bringing together a trail, taking photos and videos or sound capture of what you see or hear and then bring them together into a 'scape'. Mediascapes can be games, digital stories or a capture of a learner's experience to embed into an e-portfolio. What is a Mediascape and Create a Scape provide examples, download instructions and wizards to help get you started. Browse Mediascapes for inspiration or download those shared by others.
Skyhook Wireless has produced a positional data system that combines GPS, Cell tower triangulation and Wi-Fi Positioning, which provides virtually instant call on locational information. This allows services like Zonetag or Shozu to use 'Location Tagging' or 'Geotagging' within their software therefore allowing the user to attach latitude and longitude information to images and videos automatically upon capture before being uploaded to their Flickr account.
Apple and Skyhook joined forces to incorporate the location software onto the IPhone and map upgrades for the ITouch. Read the XConomy Boston article for more information.
A Geographer's dream! - OpenStreetMap allows you to view, edit and use geographical data in a collaborative way, such as street maps. Users of the OpenStreetMap wiki can create new routes or update existing ones using the given editing tools.
Noel Jenkins, of Digital Geography blog, describes how he uses GPS and Google Earth with young learners.
"The students were invited to say how they thought that latitude could be worked out in the event that they had been kidnapped, blindfolded and taken far from their current location. Lots of excellent answers were given, ranging from observations of the weather, animals and plants, height of the sun, length of the day etc."
Google Earth features in Teaching Mr Belshaw's blog as he describes how spatial and locational awareness can be developed.