Learning Geographical Coordinates and Map Reading with GPS-Aided Geocaching
Past researches have demonstrated that mobile learning is able to bring in positive learning results, including learning achievement and attitude toward technology. However, even encouraged by the government, due to the lack of budgets and exemplified models, most instructors in Taiwan seemed to fall short of applying mobile technologies in their teaching. This study conducted an experiment which designed a GPS-aided geocaching game with a free online resource-Google Maps for high school geography course. The major purpose of the study was to exemplify an affordable geocaching strategy of mobile learning, as well as to examine the effects of GPS-aided geocaching on learning achievements and students attitude toward the mobile technology. Certain scenic spots in a cultural-abundant site in Taipei City of Taiwan were selected. Students were asked to find those spots. The goal of the activity was to facilitate students gaining more understanding in geographical coordinates, therefore improve the ability in reading geographical maps. Subjects were 142 students from one of the senior high schools in Taipei. These students were from 4 classes, two of which assigned in the experimental group, which performed GPS-aided geocaching with Google Maps, while the other two in the control group, which employed traditional map searching method. The results of the study indicated that: 1. the GPS-aided geocaching group had a better learning achievement; 2. the GPS-aided geocaching group was generally acquired a better attitude toward using technology. In summary, GPS-aided geocaching helped students learn to read maps and recognize the geographical coordinates in a more effective way. The results may encourage educators to develop more innovative instructional strategies with inexpensive mobile technologies.
Geocaching mobile learning Global Positioning System (GPS) attitude toward using GPS
Cheng-ping Chen Ju-ling Shih
Department of Information and Learning Technology, NUOTN, 33. Sec. 2, Shu-Lin St. Tainan
国际会议
10th World Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning(第十届移动学习国际会议)
北京
英文
40-45
2011-10-18(万方平台首次上网日期,不代表论文的发表时间)