Bring the tech along on the field trip

May 21, 2013

"Nature is the perfect inspiration for truly disruptive innovation. It is where we can find examples of both exquisitely simple, and complex, designs anywhere we turn."

Shawn Parr

I can confidently proclaim as a educator leading field studies for the past two decades: solitude and joy in nature is by far the best way to deepen students feelings for the natural world. One would assume you should leave the distracting gadgets at school; but, like many things in life, it is imperative to go against convention and mix things up. After a pilot field trip a few years ago with tablets on a field study, I witnessed only positives in regards to student learning and genuine engagement.

No matter what size of the journey, here are some ideas of using that tech so students can extend learning.

Enhancing Fieldwork

To be able to enter real-time data in the field is key for researchers, a few organizations are making this a priority in schools. Enhancing Fieldwork Learning is the best place for ideas. Notably, a typical mapping/orienteering unit transcends to 'mapping invasive species'. They also provide ideas for urban regeneration, water and soil testing, demography and geology. If we can combine the local landscape with current gadgets (more specifically, use affordable ubiquitous technologies), we can address the litany of common problems that arise when a teacher leads a field trip. Lack of student engagement, connection and organizational planning some of the most significant roadblocks cited.

Landscape Activities

Learning about the actual place where the students physically go to school can be brought alive directly with interaction. Most importantly asking the question: How our school yard or local natural area that we live on and share with countless organisms and animals has been shaped?

The key is not how simple or complex the activity is, the key is that it is experienced regularly. That is when you reach a 'sweet spot' of students engagement, where content delivery is a pull not a push.

Other way to take tech outside:

Mobile Devices

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are powerful tools for outdoor study. Access to the Internet, a camera and geospatial data (e.g. GPS) make it easy to gather, organize and submit data from observations. Applications (apps) can be downloaded to engage students in citizen science activities, like identifying wildlife.

GPS Units

GPS (Global Positioning Systems) is a technology that communicates with satellites to pinpoint specific locations on Earth. GPS units are great tools for getting students outside and engaged in environmental field research and service-learning projects.

At Wisconsin’s Augusta Area School District, teacher Paul Tweed engaged his students in several projects that used GPS and GIS (Geographic Information Systems), one of which helped the Wisconsin Department of Nature Resources (DNR) track orphaned black bear cubs released into the wild.

Digital Cameras

Students can use digital cameras to document their local environment, track their progress on science projects, collect evidence and present their findings in the classroom.

Learn more at: fws.gov/northlouisiana/blackbayoulake/environmental_education.html.

Digital Weather Stations

Digital weather stations are small monitoring devices put in place to collect real-time weather data. They can be installed near home, school or in nearby parks, enabling students to add weather conditions to their study of the local environment.

naturebridge.org/your-naturebridge-program-olympic.

Other ideas:

'Sustainable Action Projects' made easy

What LSF is able to do is create a comprehensive site where the activities are sequential, outcome-based & focus on relationships. These activities are are not a field trip but 'place-based' activities conducted in the school yard.