GeoEduTrek

Project Overview

GeoEduTrek (GET)

 To Request an MTSU GEO Coin click here

Promote an educational opportunity that provides awareness of diversity for our pre-service and graduate teachers, increase awareness of Middle Tennessee State University by affording an interdisciplinary educational opportunity for any K-12 student. MTSU though the Department of Elementary and Special Education in conjunction with the Homer Pittard Campus School will distribute approximately 500 geocoins throughout the world. Professors will attend national and state conferences to make educators aware of the GeoEduTrek (GET) program.

The coins will be identified with a unique number to provide worldwide tracking. One side of the coin will have an MTSU icon; the other side will have the Lightening logo.

The geocaching concept places an object (geocoin) in a location identified by latitude and longitude coordinates. The coordinates are uploaded to a website where an individual may look them up and find the geocoin.

A simple code may be included to provide a specific hint as to the exact location once the coordinates are found.

Utilizing a constructivist philosophy, the pre-service and graduate educational students of MTSU or any institution of learning may develop hands-on activities that will cross the curriculum. These activities will be posted to the GeoEduTrek web site for utilization in various grades and disciplines. An educator may utilize the MTSU GeoEduTrek web site activities to enhance their students learning.

The MTSU GeoEduTrek exercise will allow the finder of the MTSU geocoin to respond in various ways:

1. To describe the location        
2. To capture a digital picture of the location
3. To digitally record themselves explaining the location, their culture, their educational experience or motive
4. To move the coin to another location for the next trekker to discover and share information

A trekker may post this information to the GeoEduTrek web site for individuals to observe. The information will allow students in one location of our nation to realize the diversity of not only our nation but the world. The cultural opportunities will be very diverse and may include geography, language, accents, and provide various other educational discoveries. All uploads and information on the GeoEduTrek web site will be monitored for appropriate content.

Visitors to the GeoEduTrek (GET) website, specifically educational students, will be able to track each coin and their location.