Annotated Bibliography

 

Have you ever wondered what kinds of incredible birds are in your local area? Several excellent bird companions surround us in the parks, woods, and backyards! In this activity, we will use technology to investigate the world of birds around us as we go on a feathery journey today. ACE (2024) suggests that mobile apps known as "geocaching apps" allow users to engage in geocaching activities. People can download a free geocaching app on their mobile devices. One could upload a geocaching activity to the website if they choose. Using a geocaching app, we'll be able to find secret spots and solve puzzles that will teach us everything there is to know about the birds that live around us.  Prepare to put your investigative talents to use, venture outside, and learn about the intriguing world of the local birds!

Activity Details

Birdday.org (2022) provides how students can investigate and learn about local bird species using geocaching applications. Through the integration of technology, outdoor exploration, and biology teaching, this activity encourages students to work together, do research, and apply what they have learned to a practical setting.

Table 1

Details of Exploring My Local Bird Species Using Geocaching Technology

Grade Level	High school students
Subject	Exploring bird species using geocaching technology
Learning Objectives	Investigate and report local bird species.
Hardware Requirements	Tablets or smartphones with Internet access and GPS capabilities
Software Requirements	The geocaching app by Groundspeak makes navigating and finding outdoor sites for an educational adventure simple with its user-friendly interface and an extensive database of geocaches.
Preparing Students for Software	Teach students how to download, install, and use the Geocaching app and provide an example of how to find and log geocaches.
Activity Groups	Three to four students are ideal for groups since they allow for efficient device and task sharing while fostering cooperation and optimizing each student’s active engagement.
Geocache Box	This can be a small box or waterproof container concealed at precise GPS coordinates and holding hints or details regarding nearby bird species. Students use the geocaching app to locate these boxes, which offer instructional materials or suggestions for local bird observation and documentation.
Accessibility and Limitations	There could be restrictions on this activity, such as difficulties in making it accessible to students with physical impairments, limitations on the availability of devices, reliance on favorable weather, safety concerns, and possible problems with internet connectivity. Geocache boxes could also need routine maintenance to guard against damage or loss. Providing alternate indoor or virtual geocaching experiences, making sure the activity site is safe and accessible, setting up school-provided devices or partnering students, downloading the required maps in advance for offline use, and putting in place a maintenance schedule for geocache boxes are some ways to get around these restrictions. All children can benefit from the activity if the design has these obstacles in mind and the solutions are ready.

 Conclusion

Adanali and Alim (2019) suggest that geocaching projects provide high school students with an exciting and captivating method of learning about local bird species using technology and software. Students will improve their comprehension of biology, gain research skills, and learn how to collaborate by fusing digital resources with outdoor experience. With the help of the offered rubric, differentiation strategies are evaluated efficiently, meeting a range of learning requirements and optimizing the educational impact.

References

American College of Education. (2024). Differentiation Strategies for Learning: Module 9 [Video]. Canvas. https://ace.instructure.com/courses/1987804/external_tools/118428

Adanali, R., & Alim, M. (2019). The students’ behaviours at the instructional geocaching applied in problem-based environmental education. Review of International Geographical Education Online, 9(1), 122–148.

Geocaching: a High-Tech Treasure hunt for bird observation and habitat exploration. (2022). In Environment for the Americas [Interactive Activity]. https://www.birdday.org/2011materials/geocache.pdf

 

Appendix

Rubric for Assessing Differentiation Methods with Instructional Technology

Criteria	Excellent (4 Points)	Good (3 Points)	Satisfactory (2 Points)	Needs Improvement (1 Point)
Research Quality	Thorough investigation coupled with extensive knowledge of the bird species.	Good research based on a thorough knowledge of the bird species.	Satisfactory study combined with a working knowledge of the bird species.	Limited understanding of the bird species and little investigation.
Use of Technology	Excellent use of digital documentation, bird identification tools, and the geocaching app.	Good use of digital documentation, bird identification tools, and the geocaching app.	Basic use of digital documentation, bird identification tools, and geocaching apps.	Limited use of digital documentation, bird identification tools, and geocaching software is restricted.
Collaboration	Outstanding group collaboration and teamwork.	Good group communication and teamwork.	Basic cooperation and teamwork.	Limited collaboration and teamwork within the group.
Bird Observation	Comprehensive and precise bird species identification and observation.	Good species identification and observation of birds.	Basic species identification and observation of birds.	Limited bird species have been identified and observed.
Documentation	The experience of bird watching and geocaching is meticulously and neatly documented.	Good recording of the bird-watching and geocaching adventures.	Basic record of the bird-watching and geocaching adventures.	Limited information about the bird-watching and geocaching experiences is recorded.
Presentation	A thorough and engaging presentation that clearly articulates the findings.	A clear presentation featuring articulated findings.	Basic presentation that includes some explanation of the results.	Limited presentation that is brief and barely articulates the conclusions.
Reflection	An excellent reflection on the educational process.	A good reflection of the educational process.	Basic reflection of the educational process.	Limited reflection of the educational process.
Differentiation	Demonstrates creative diversification techniques catered to a range of learning requirements.	Effective differentiation strategies catered to a variety of learning demands are demonstrated.	Demonstrates basic differentiation techniques adapted to specific learning requirements.	Limited differentiation techniques adapted to specific learning requirements.