Global Positioning System (GPS) technology originated within the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1970s as a way to assist military personnel in accurately determining their locations throughout the world. Today its role has expanded to provide navigational assistance to the general public. Built-in GPS units assist drivers, pilots and boaters while hand-held units are used in recreational activities like hiking and geo-caching. Scientists also utilize the technology to forecast weather, study ecological concerns and measure seismic changes during earthquakes.

GPS technology relies upon satellites, receivers and a data center to function effectively. The system is comprised of 24 satellites that orbit the earth in six distinct orbital planes. Each satellite transmits information to Earth that is received by the GPS unit. Based upon the triangulation of the radio signals received, the latitude, longitude and height at the receiver can be determined.

Data centers around the world can access the satellite information and analyze it for various uses. For example, the Institute of Applied Geo-Spatial Technology (IAGT) at Cayuga Community College analyzed smoke patterns to assist emergency personnel in the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster.

Last year, Casey Park Elementary School became the first school in the Auburn district to use GPS units. Thanks to an Auburn Education Foundation (AEF) grant and the efforts of physical education teacher Bill Allan and technology consultant Dennis Meegan, students used the units to develop a better understanding of mapping skills. Concepts of latitude and longitude were reinforced as the third-graders maneuvered in different directions to observe the changing data displayed on the units.

Casey Park Elementary School has generously allowed other schools to borrow its units this year. Teachers are teaming up to try out the technology in classes at Seward and Genesee Elementary schools. They are incorporating the technology in mathematics, social studies and physical education classes.

At Seward Elementary School, students were introduced to GPS through an interdisciplinary geo-caching project involving Meegan, physical education teachers Cindy Wright and Don Patchett, and classroom teachers Shari Wakeham, Peter Sikora, Steve Franchina and Meredith Torrisi.

Students had to research information on the computer and complete worksheets about GPS. In the process, they were reminded to consider the reliability of the source when conducting Internet research.

For example, while students were assured of the accuracy of information on NASA's Web site, they were reminded that Wikipedia is a popular site where anyone can place content on the site without accountability for its accuracy.

The project soon moved onto the playing fields behind Seward School. Teams were formed by drawing names so that students would learn to work together with different classmates.

After learning how to use the units to “mark” waypoints (a means of recording specific locations), two classes teamed up each day to go on a geo-caching scavenger hunt.

Teams from each class selected and marked five different waypoints designated by various traffic cones. One student marked the location with the GPS unit while another team member recorded the “treasures” hidden under each cone on a different worksheet. Then the GPS units were exchanged with teams in the other class. Teams had to use the GPS units to locate the correct waypoints and record the items underneath the cones. The two pages were compared to see whether the teams located the correct caches.

While outside, the students also learned to use the GPS unit's trip odometer. Each student ran a distance on the athletic fields, and the running speeds were recorded. Students will create spreadsheets in their math classes and calculate the average speed.

Joyce Brunet, recipient of another AEF grant, is using GPS units in her fifth grade science class at Genesee Elementary School.

The class has been studying ecological issues related to the local watershed. Students have recently learned how to mark waypoints, navigate through the “pages” of the GPS units, and enter or delete data.

This month the class will work with Renee Jensen, a representative from the Cornell Cooperative Extension program. Among the various activities planned is a walk to a local park so that the students can use the units to mark sources of pollution in the watershed. The class hopes to share this information with local government officials so that they may address this problem in our community.

Auburn is fortunate to be at the cutting edge of this important new technology. Through the popular CORSE workshop offered at the IAGT each June, educators can see the benefits of incorporating the technology in their own classes.

As more teachers discover the educational value of using GPS units, they are sure to develop exciting new applications that will capture the attention of their students.

The CORSE workshop will be held at the IAGT on June 25 through 29. For more information, call 252-8669 or visit www.iagt.org/corse/.

Leslie Leary is a foundation consultant for the Auburn Education Foundation.