Bringing GPS and GIS into the classroom

Technological applications such as digital mapping, GPS, and GIS technologies can add much depth to scientific explorations. For my wildlife biology class I taught this Spring semester, I wanted to find a way to incorporate this technology into the curriculum.

As a class, we began our integration of technology by exploring Google Earth and other digital mapping applications. We spent two days using Google Earth and navigated through content layers that presented information about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and a sea level rise simulation associated with climate change data. Once the students had become comfortable with Google Earth and gained some map reading skills, we began the second phase of our exploration – data collection. By using a digital topographical map of a local watershed (Indian River) we were able to generate the coordinates of our randomly selected plot centers. Once we had these data points, we could enter the values into handheld GPS units and physically find the locations.

Once the transects were established, students calculated percent canopy cover and counted the presence of fecal pellet groups. With the data, we were hoping to calculate an estimate of how many deer live in the Indian River watershed. We also will be able to evaluate the correlation between percent canopy cover and deer presence.

Using handheld GPS units was a huge success with my students. The group was so excited to get outside and explore the region we were studying. If I were to do this project in the future, I would spend more time studying digital topographical maps with my students. The limitations of time, budget, and technology affected the depth at which we could utilize technology in this project.

If I had more time to research another technology, I would like to use the Stand Visualization Simulation (SVS) program developed by the US Forest Service. With the percent canopy cover data my class obtained from our transects, I think it would be really interested to apply this data and create model that simulated our forest composition.

Please click on the links below to check out each of the lesson plans:

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lessons 5+6

Please click on the following links to explore data layers of Google Earth:

Add Content Layers Menu

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Modeling Sea Level Rise