South Carolina Geographic Alliance
Global Positioning Systems:
Setting Up a GPS Course
Mark Musselman
Audubon Center at
Francis Beidler Forest
Harleyville, South Carolina
Setting Up a GPS Course
Sample course at Clay Hill Middle School
Setting Up a GPS Course
Students will be divided into teams of 4 per GPS unit.
Using the GPS unit, each student will independently
complete the practice sheet prior to navigating the
course.
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
Each team will be given coordinates to a destination.
The first student to navigate will load the coordinates
into the GPS unit.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
After loading the coordinates,
the first student will navigate
to the destination.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
At the destination, the team will
record the letter for that point
and find new coordinates listed
by their team’s number.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
A second team member will load
the new coordinates to the GPS
unit and navigate to the
destination.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
At the destination, the team will
record the letter for that point
and find new coordinates listed
by their team’s number.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
A third team member will load
the new coordinates to the GPS
unit and navigate to the
destination.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
At the destination, the team will
record the letter for that point
and find new coordinates listed
by their team’s number.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
The final team member will load
the new coordinates to the GPS
unit and navigate to the
destination.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
The accuracy of the team’s
route can be quickly determined
by checking their route letters
(EDAC).
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
If the team’s route is inaccurate,
the separate legs of the route
can be checked. Here the third
student navigated erroneously
from point D to point C.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
B
However, for this team, the correct
destination from point C is point B.
Therefore,
the
fourth
student
navigated correctly.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
Setting Up a GPS Course
C
A
E
F
D
If necessary, more than one set of coordinate cards
can be created to ensure students do not become
familiar with the routes.
Starting Point
(south of driveway)
B
Other Sample Courses
GPS, Map and Compass
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/gps.html
“Cruise the Campus” (GCGA6T)
www.geocaching.com
Conclusion
GPS technology continues to be
incorporated into various aspects of our
society.
Understanding the concepts
behind the technology as well as its use
not only helps students address
curriculum standards, it is an everincreasing employment skill.
A simple campus-based navigation course
is an easy, effective method for teaching
students GPS skills and technology!