Instead of sharing a Power Point or websites to define geocaching and teach the basics of GPS, I gave the students a list of essential questions to answer. No resources or websites were given, just a blank Inspiration map with questions and space for answers. Students were then told to find the answers independently, using any resource they thought would be helpful.(My reasoning for not giving students the sites to find the answers was to assess how they approach using the Web for research.) Some students launched Firefox and searched my “interesting links” page thinking I left them resources. Others, immediately went to Google and searched for geocaching. A few students decided to use Ask.com as their search engine, typing in the essential questions exactly as I worded them on the recording sheet.
Essential questions included:
1. What exactly is geocaching?
2. What does the word mean?
3. What tools are needed?
4. What is a cache?
5. What is GPS?
6. What is Cache In, Trash Out?
7. Are there any rules for geocaching?
After about 25 minutes of independent research, the students gathered on the floor with their research sheets. We then completed an Inspiration map together as a class to make sure everyone had a basic understanding of geocaching and GPS systems.
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