UTPA STEM/CBI Courses/Environmental Impact Assessment/Map, Compass, and GPS Skills

Course Title: Environmental Impact Assessment

Lecture Topic: Map, Compass, and GPS Skills

Instructor: Frank J Dirrigl, Jr.

Institution: The University of Texas Pan-American

Backwards Design
Course Objectives


 * Primary Objectives- By the next class period students will be able to:
 * Understand how to read a topographical map including symbols, elevation, and directions
 * Use a compass to orientate a map, take a bearing, and follow directions
 * Use a Global Positioning System (GPS) to take a waypoint, find latitude and longitude, and UTM coordinates


 * Sub Objectives- The objectives will require that students be able to:
 * What slope is and how to calculate rise (elevation) over run (distance)
 * Use a grid or coordinate system
 * Read degrees and (ticks) on a compass
 * Follow a set of detailed directions for the GPS unit


 * Difficulties- Students may have difficulty:
 * Orienting their sense of direction and converting it to degrees
 * Reading contour lines on a topographical map
 * Comprehending UTM grids and finding points on a topographical map


 * Real-World Contexts- There are many ways that students can use this material in the real-world, such as:
 * Skills that will allow a beginning environmental scientist communicate the location of a site or specimen

Model of Knowledge


 * Concept Map
 * Analytical Skills
 * Reading a Map and Compass and GPS unit
 * Calculating area of a land plot
 * Taking compass reading with declination
 * Teamwork Building Skills
 * Working as part of a group to construct a compass course
 * Working with the group to complete another team’s compass course


 * Content Priorities
 * Enduring Understanding
 * Locate a project area in the field and map and be able to convey this information to others so that they may find it
 * Locate particular landscape / biological features from maps or descriptions
 * Orient themselves on a map


 * Important to Do and Know
 * Compass directions
 * Map symbols and elevations
 * UTM coordinate grids
 * GPS menu operation and limitations


 * Worth Being Familiar with
 * Orienteering skills (i.e., it is not necessary to do any of the skill set fast, but could come in handy in search and rescue situations

Assessment of Learning


 * Formative Assessment
 * In Class (groups)
 * Assess prior knowledge of compass and map us with pre-quiz (no grade)
 * Assess teams ability to work together to find points on a compass course in the shortest period of time (no grade- but reward with the golden compass award plaque with team names)


 * Homework (individual)
 * Complete the Lost Lake compass exercise
 * Complete the Topographical Map UTM exercise to locate UTPA buildings


 * Summative Assessment
 * Student is assessed by the number of tasks completed successfully
 * Student is assessed by their participation in the challenge

Legacy Cycle
OBJECTIVE

By the next class period, students will be able to:
 * Orientate a compass and compensate for declination through adjustment or addition/subtraction of degrees
 * Orientate a map to allow compass bearing readings from the map to compass and compass to map
 * Practice this skill inside with Lost Lake exercise
 * Practice this skill outdoors on UTPA campus
 * Use a GPS unit to map a waypoint and determine latitude and longitude and UTM coordinates in the field and on a map using a UTM grid
 * Read a topographical map for elevation, common symbols, and calculate slope of a hill
 * Use a pocket stereoscope to determine landform and vegetation
 * Use grids to calculate the acres of a land plot
 * Determine the elevation of a pond or hill using a map or GPS unit

The objectives will require that students be able to:
 * Locate a project area in the field and map and be able to convey this information to others so that they may find it
 * Locate particular landscape / biological features from maps or descriptions
 * Orient themselves on a map

THE CHALLENGE

You have found rare plants and animals on the UTPA campus. Using a map, compass, and GPS, plot the points so that other environmental scientists can follow your trail and find them too.

GENERATE IDEAS


 * 1) How can you send someone to a location on a topographical and/or aerial map where you have found a rare species of plant or animal?
 * 2) Students will be handed a compass and asked to find where north is and walk in this direction
 * 3) Students will be asked to orientate a map so that it faces the direction they are facing
 * 4) Students will be asked to take a bearing on a tree or object
 * 5) What is orienteering? What is geocaching?

MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

Learn how to use a map, compass, and GPS unit through instruction, video, and provided web links (See Blackboard supporting page).

RESEARCH & REVISE

You will set up a compass and GPS course (i.e., orienteering and geocaching). Group A will construct the compass course and then travel the GPS course. Group B will construct the GPS course and then travel the compass course.

TEST YOUR METTLE

Construct a concept map about: What is important to know when working with a map, compass, and GPS? GO PUBLIC

Try your hand at geocaching with friends by finding two caches located on campus.

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