Category Archives: GeoGuesser

Geocaching in a Real World, Augmented Reality Geosphere

AugmentedReality, Geocaching, GeoGuesser, GeoTech, iot July 20, 2016 Comments: 2
This blog entry first appeared in TCEA
TechNotes blog at
http://www.tcea.org/technotes
New digital technologies (such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and geocaching) enable us to transform our experiences in the real world. In essence, we are increasingly able to include layers of virtual and augmented reality, replete with information and visual transformations, in our real world interactions.
In a previous blog entry, Cultivating a Maker’s Attitude, I shared the perspective that blending high-tech and hands-on (e.g. crafts) yields a new way of creating and working in the world. In the past, we enjoyed a dichotomy between working with your mind and working with your hands, even though it is ridiculous to think that you could do the latter without being fully engaged. Still, the latter has long been seen as less valuable. That is why “college ready” has held such a high appeal, while going to “vocational” schools been seen as a disappointment, a failure somehow to realize the full potential of a human being.
Yet that perspective and understanding of the world must change. If we raise our children to be college ready, it must be with a deeper appreciation of hands-on work because technology enables us to create and interact with the world around us in ways we have never been able to do before. Augmented reality is just  one of the ways.
Consider the video from Smartly Things of the augmented reality sandbox, as well asthis one of the Lawrence Hall of Science AR sandbox. In each video, it’s clear that hands-on in the best way to interact with the topography of a map enhanced by augmented reality. Beyond the coolness factor, we begin to experience the world in a physical and digital way that fundamentally transforms our experience as human beings.
In her blog entry How to Use Augmented Reality to Transform Your Classroom, Patricia Brown points out:
Using the Aurasma App and Aurasma Studio, you can create your own “Auras” (or AR experiences), and use them to engage students in creative ways. For example, jazz up your school’s art show, or make math come alive through videos of students solving math problems–perhaps students can trigger an Aura by pointing their smartphone at a particular equation. You could even attach a trigger image to a Google Form to request time with the school counselor, or make a class picture image on your teacher website trigger a virtual tour of a classroom.
AR is obviously finding its way into our lives in new and different ways that involve seeing the world around us in a digital, augmented way. This augmentation brings a richness of experience not previously possible. Consider Katie Ann Wilson’s (Diary of a Tech Chick blog) description of a new app that allows her to see things in a different way:
BlippBuilder is Blippar‘s augmented reality platform where you can create one of a kind augmented experiences. I started experimenting on creating augmented educational 360° experiences. I took a picture of the Great Pyramid and integrated some facts. I’ve even included a map of Egypt. The possibilities of creating reach augmented educational content.
After you scan the above image, tap anywhere on the image when prompted and, like magic, you just brought 360° experience of the pyramids to your classroom.
Katie Ann adds that there are several educational applications, including creating augmented learning experiences for national landmarks, zoos, historical sites, field trips, historical reenactment, art gallery, museums, and other environments. You can start to see that technology activities that intersect with the physical, such as geocaching, are finding their way into daily life.
Geocaching, as well as augmented reality, provide an entry point for those who may be skeptical of living, teaching, and learning at the intersection of the physical and virtual. AR and VR, augmented reality and virtual reality, respectively, allow us to enhance the physical with a wealth of information, knowledge, and experience.
Geocaching is the hunt for any of more than 2 million geocaches worldwide hidden by folks like you. Each treasure hunt will take you to a fun, creative or beautiful place outdoors. Geo means earth and cache means hidden item. Geocaches range from very small (like a film canister) to large (such as a metal lunch box). Many are camouflaged, but they are not buried. Geocaches hold things like a log book to sign your name, tradable items for kids and adults, and more. To find a geocache, use a GPS unit or smartphone app to find the coordinates (the exact location) of a geocache nearby. Adapted from source:Texas State Parks
Apps like those shown below can enhance our experiences as we go “treasure-hunting.” It is not too big a stretch of the imagination to see the merging of augmented reality and geocaching. These enable us to engage and learn in ways that enrich the human experience. We must provide our students with these innovative learning opportunities.
Android apps:
iOS apps
While geocaching appears to enable us to insert geomarkers into the geosphere we all live in, augmented reality can actually see the world appear to be transformed. Molding the virtual reality provides new insights into the physical, making teaching and learning how to for young learners critical for the future. Consider these predictions:
Some economists are predicting Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) will be the 7th and biggest media technology revolution in history (the first being movable type of the Guttenberg press and the last few being the internet and mobile devices). Markets will exceed $150 billion by 2020. Scientists have been predicting this for decades while writers have been predicting this for centuries…our measure of our success will be how we can make this real world a better place. This will be done by sharing the power of our imagination and the passion of our vision within future virtual worlds. Its about inspiration, learning, exploring, sharing, living more purposefully. Source: Virtual World Society
What a powerful question: How can we as educators help our children learn to make the real world a better place through the use of augmented and virtual reality? The answer may be simpler than you think. Begin by introducing them to geocaching, learning spatial science, as well as exploring how to augment reality in their portion of the geosphere.
Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure

My First @Voxer Casts

Android, DigitalStorytelling, Education, GeoGuesser, GreenScreen, iPad, iPads, Seesaw, TCEA, Tots16, Voxer June 19, 2016 Leave a comment
In June, 2016, I had the opportunity to travel to the TCEA Tots and Technology Conference taking place in Galveston, Texas for elementary educators. When I attend conferences like this one, it can be overwhelming to process all the information that’s being shared.

Note: This blog entry originally cross-posted at TCEA TechNotes Blog!

 That’s why I took a few moments to start up the Voxer app and interview folks on the way to TCEA Tots. Below, you’ll find short “voxercasts.” The Voxer app makes it easy to record content and then quickly share it. 
I bookmarked the Tweets where I shared the Voxercasts and you can subscribe to the #TCEATots Voxercasts RSS feed via the Diigo social bookmarking tool.
These TCEA Tots voxercasts really help capture the flavor of this fantastic conference geared to teachers of young children. Note that links below will open to a Voxer page.

Seven Tots and Technology Voxercasts:

  1. Green Screen Tips from Dr. Bruce Ellis – This conversation really blew my mind, so to speak, and sharing the tips Dr. Ellis included in his overview of green screen tips caught the attention of pre-conference attendees in my Become a Storymakersession.
  2. GeoGuesser with Dr. Bruce Ellis – This conversation expands on social studies/geography connections possible with GeoGuesser, a Google feature I had never heard of. In fact, when I spoke with Lampasas ISD teachers who were presenting on virtual field trips and geo-related activities, they did not know about it either.
  3. iPad Sharing Made Easy (Part 1) with Miguel Guhlin – This conversation has me sharing about iPads and getting information out there. I highlight several apps, including Readdle Documents and Seesaw. This is a two-part series since we were having too much fun, and Part 2 also mentioned Android.
  4. iPad and Android Sharing Made Easy (Part 2) with Miguel Guhlin and Dr. Bruce Ellis – You may have noticed that the previous voxercast was cut short. This is the second half.
  5. Notecard Confessions with Pedro Delgado (El Paso ISD) – What a joy to chat with Pedro Delgado (Twitter @neuropete01), TCEA Teacher of the Year Award finalist. He describes how he and his fourth and fifth grade students adapted the Paper Slide Videos, which I shared in my pre-conference session at TCEA Tots and Technology, to create Notecard Confessions. Check out Pedro’s phenomenal web site here.
  6. Virtual FieldTrips and More with Sherrie Berry and Shelley Kozma (Lampasas ISD) (shown right) – We discussed Seesaw, as well as other awesome ideas and tips in the iPad classroom. This really addresses collecting student work from iPads. Also discussed Microsoft in Education, as well as Skype in the Classroom. And Google Lit Trips were also referenced. Catch them on Twitter @shelleykozma and@sherrie_berrys.
  7. Digital Storytelling with Dr. Martha Green (Texas A&M) and Cecelia “Cece” Porra – In this wonderfully rich conversation, Martha, Cece, and I discuss digital storytelling and its application for instructional purposes. Martha provides some insights into using digital storytelling for mathematics, as well as shares other ideas.
  8. Coding in the Language Arts Classroom with Kelly Hong – Listen to Kelly share what she knows about coding in the language arts classroom. Who would have thought you could “write” or “code” fantasy stories and tales with MIT’s Scratch program?
  9. Seesaw with Brittany Adcock (@adcockb10) – Listen to Brittany share about Seesaw, a phenomenal digital portfolio tool.
  10. Digital Learning Centers with Crystal Flores and Jeanine Freeman (@techtimewithj9) – This is a fascinating presentation by Crystal and Jeanine about how Crystal created audio versions of her classroom books. Also listen to Dr. Roland Rios share his reflections, too.
  11. TCEA Tots participants were asked to share their insights: What is one take-away from TCEA Tots? Other participants(TonyaHinkebein; MalvernMRS shown below with service dog, Nelson) also offered their thoughts on Promoting Technology Use in their classroom.
  12. Collaborative Grant Writing (Part 1 and Part 2)– This was an enlightening session regarding crowdfunding (e.g. DonorsChoose) with Brandi (@aesfinearts) and Mandy Bryan (@mandyrbryan) and collaborative grant writing tools. It resulted in two parts.
Be sure to check back for even more interviews from TCEA Tots and Technology 2016 in Galveston, Texas. And if you want more learning for elementary educators, consider joining TCEA for the Tots Frisco conference July 24-26.
Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure