Orienteering as a Tool to Teach Map Reading and Compass Skills
Heather Cunningham Kent State University Tuscarawas
Author Profile
This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Activities collection
HideStudents use compasses and a map of campus to navigate and find orienteering markers. This lab helps to reinforce map navigation skills. Students enjoyed the activity.
GSA Poster (Acrobat (PDF) 3.2MB Nov5 04)
Learning Goals
Content/Concepts:map reading, compass reading, problem solving
Geologic Skills:
map reading, compass navigation
Higher Order Thinking Skills:
Other Skills:
Context
Instructional Level:Orienteering can be used with students of any age group. Elementary school students would need a more basic shortened course. With practice in map reading and compass use high school and university aged students can compete on more complex courses.
The sport of orienteering utilizes a variety of different skills. Based on the time the instructor would like to dedicate and level of comprehension of the students a variety of different activities can be used. Many teachers may want to have younger students draw maps of the classroom and plot particular objects on those maps. Compass use can be introduced by sighting particular objects within the classroom. Once the class is ready to orienteer many types of courses can be set up indoors or outdoors. The simplest course (line orienteering) would be designed by drawing a line or using a string to delineate a course. Students would then follow the course and plot the location of markers onto a map. Another variation (point to point orienteering) for larger areas would be to have a base map with the location of several ordered markers drawn on it. Students then have to mark the location of the markers onto their own maps and locate those markers in the shortest period of time. One final variation (score orienteering) would be to put up many markers in a set area and have students find as many as possible in a set time period.
The sport of orienteering utilizes a variety of different skills. Based on the time the instructor would like to dedicate and level of comprehension of the students a variety of different activities can be used. Many teachers may want to have younger students draw maps of the classroom and plot particular objects on those maps. Compass use can be introduced by sighting particular objects within the classroom. Once the class is ready to orienteer many types of courses can be set up indoors or outdoors. The simplest course (line orienteering) would be designed by drawing a line or using a string to delineate a course. Students would then follow the course and plot the location of markers onto a map. Another variation (point to point orienteering) for larger areas would be to have a base map with the location of several ordered markers drawn on it. Students then have to mark the location of the markers onto their own maps and locate those markers in the shortest period of time. One final variation (score orienteering) would be to put up many markers in a set area and have students find as many as possible in a set time period.
Skills Needed:
For this activity, I had already introduced basic topographic map reading skills with the students in the lab before. In this lab, I introduced how to use a compass and then integrated compass and map reading skills into the orienteering course.
Role of Activity in a Course:
this is a stand alone exercise
Data, Tools and Logistics
Required Tools:Orienteering requires a base map, compasses and course markers. Finding a base map was the greatest challenge I encountered. I modified a base map of the campus from the 1960's. Most schools (or their architects) should have a topographic map of the region. The university had to invest in compasses for the students. I chose the purchase the nicer, more expensive compasses because of the clinometer. The Silva Ultra can be purchased at ~$50 each. Silva makes less expensive brands of compass including the Guide and Polaris which cost ~$10-$15 each. Markers and punches were purchased through Ward's Geologic Supply. The flags cost $4.25 each and the punches cost $30 for a box of 10. The punches are not necessary unless a competition is being held. Markers can be made from everyday products, like milk cartons or boxes.
Logistical Challenges:
Logistically it is best to find a location that is wooded with topography. The best courses are designed with numerous possible ways to reach the markers. Then students have to choose between distances and topography. Transportation of students to the locality and traffic are always issues that need to be factored in if the course is away from campus.
Evaluation
Evaluation Goals:I had students complete pre and post lab evaluations. I wanted the students to leave lab feeling comfortable using a compass and locating objects on a topographic map.
Evaluation Techniques:
Orienteering Name _________________
1. How many times have you used a compass?
Never 1-3 4-6 7+
2. Do you feel comfortable using a compass?
Yes no
3. Have you ever tried orienteering?
Yes no
4. How comfortable do you feel plotting something on a map?
Not very somewhat able very able
5. How comfortable do you feel measuring your pace?
Not very somewhat able very able
6. Do you think reading a map and compass are important skills?
Yes no
7. If the compass needle is pointing to 270° degrees which direction will you be pointed? ____________________________________
8 If the compass needle is pointed to 25° degrees which direction will you be pointed? _________________________________
9. On three trials you measured your pace to be: 21, 25, 26 steps for 50 m. What would your pace be?__________________________________
10. What would you like to learn from this lab?
Post Lab Evaluation:
1. What did you expect to learn?
2. Did you learn it?
3. If not, why?
4. What did you like most?
5. What did you like least?
6. What would you change?
7. Would you recommend this lab to a friend?
8. What would have made this lab better?
Results of the Pre Lab Evaluations:
- Surprisingly, 18 students felt comfortable using a compass compared to the 6 who did not.
- Only 5 students of the 24 surveyed had tried orienteering.
- All of the students surveyed felt map reading and compass skills were important
Some of the expectations that the students had from the lab included:
- How to read a compass
- Refresh orienteering
- All about a compass
- More orienteering skills
- Compass use/direction
- How to orienteer
Results of the Post Lab Evaluations:
- After lab 23 of the 24 students felt comfortable using a compass
Students enjoyed this lab. All of the post lab comments were positive. Most students expected to learn how to use a compass and felt that they had mastered that skill by the end of lab. One student suggested this become a 2 lab activity with basic orienteering skills one week and then the a longer more elaborate course the next. The students liked being outside and actively learning.
1. How many times have you used a compass?
Never 1-3 4-6 7+
2. Do you feel comfortable using a compass?
Yes no
3. Have you ever tried orienteering?
Yes no
4. How comfortable do you feel plotting something on a map?
Not very somewhat able very able
5. How comfortable do you feel measuring your pace?
Not very somewhat able very able
6. Do you think reading a map and compass are important skills?
Yes no
7. If the compass needle is pointing to 270° degrees which direction will you be pointed? ____________________________________
8 If the compass needle is pointed to 25° degrees which direction will you be pointed? _________________________________
9. On three trials you measured your pace to be: 21, 25, 26 steps for 50 m. What would your pace be?__________________________________
10. What would you like to learn from this lab?
Post Lab Evaluation:
1. What did you expect to learn?
2. Did you learn it?
3. If not, why?
4. What did you like most?
5. What did you like least?
6. What would you change?
7. Would you recommend this lab to a friend?
8. What would have made this lab better?
Results of the Pre Lab Evaluations:
- Surprisingly, 18 students felt comfortable using a compass compared to the 6 who did not.
- Only 5 students of the 24 surveyed had tried orienteering.
- All of the students surveyed felt map reading and compass skills were important
Some of the expectations that the students had from the lab included:
- How to read a compass
- Refresh orienteering
- All about a compass
- More orienteering skills
- Compass use/direction
- How to orienteer
Results of the Post Lab Evaluations:
- After lab 23 of the 24 students felt comfortable using a compass
Students enjoyed this lab. All of the post lab comments were positive. Most students expected to learn how to use a compass and felt that they had mastered that skill by the end of lab. One student suggested this become a 2 lab activity with basic orienteering skills one week and then the a longer more elaborate course the next. The students liked being outside and actively learning.
Description
Activity 1—Sighting Objects with a Compass
Activity 1 was designed to teach students how to obtain a bearing from a compass. Five stationary objects were chosen for students to locate near the Business Office on campus. Standing at a central point, students were asked to accurately determine the bearing. Students using their Silva compasses had to center the object in the sight, turn the dial of the compass and align the base plate red arrow with the north arrow. After this was accomplished, students had to record the reading from the index pointer. Overall the students quickly learned how to manipulate the compass dials and determine the orientation of objects in space.
Pitfalls:
Students had a hard time keeping the compass flat causing erroneous results since the needle could not swing freely. Also some of the objects chosen were too large (picnic table). The students would choose different points to sight on the particular object and the range of bearings varied by up to 10°.
Activity 2—3 Legged Walk
Activity 2 was designed to teach students how to walk along a bearing and close a loop. Each student was given a bottle cap. The bottle cap was placed anywhere on the ground. The students turned the dial of the compass to 40° and walk 25 steps in that direction. After 25 steps the students added 120° (to a bearing of 160°) and walked 25 steps in that direction. Then students were asked to add another 120° (to a bearing of 280°) and walk 25 steps. At this point the students should have ended up back at the starting bottle cap. In this activity students made an equilateral triangle. If the student did not end up at the bottle cap, he/she was asked to try again.
The activity can be altered to have students walk farther (50-60 steps). Due to space limitations, the students were asked to only walk 25 steps in this activity. Also the starting direction can be any arbitrary compass direction. After each leg from a set direction the student must add 120° and eventually he/she will end up back at the beginning.
Most students did well with activity. The students who had the most trouble with the orienteering also did not master the 3 legged walk.
Activity 3—Simple Orienteering Course
Around campus I placed six orienteering markers on tree branches. Tied to each marker was a red orienteering punch. On the punch was labeled the punch number and bearing of the next marker. Students were required walk along that bearing direction until they reached the next marker. Once at the marker, the students punched the according box on their map and plotted the location of that particular marker accordingly on their map. The course took students around the science building.
Concerns:
The Kent State University Tuscarawas campus is cut by an access road. I wanted to design a course that would not take them over the access road but could not do it. In the end, I had the students cross across a parking lot and the access road. I tried to create a circular course so students could not have other groups lead them to the next marker. In the end, based on the location of objects and buildings I decided to have them cross these hazards. The students did not seem to mind, but in light of recent safety concerns I would have like to put a course together in a more contained environment. Post lab evaluations from students also indicated they would have rather not crossed the parking lot.
Activity 1 was designed to teach students how to obtain a bearing from a compass. Five stationary objects were chosen for students to locate near the Business Office on campus. Standing at a central point, students were asked to accurately determine the bearing. Students using their Silva compasses had to center the object in the sight, turn the dial of the compass and align the base plate red arrow with the north arrow. After this was accomplished, students had to record the reading from the index pointer. Overall the students quickly learned how to manipulate the compass dials and determine the orientation of objects in space.
Pitfalls:
Students had a hard time keeping the compass flat causing erroneous results since the needle could not swing freely. Also some of the objects chosen were too large (picnic table). The students would choose different points to sight on the particular object and the range of bearings varied by up to 10°.
Activity 2—3 Legged Walk
Activity 2 was designed to teach students how to walk along a bearing and close a loop. Each student was given a bottle cap. The bottle cap was placed anywhere on the ground. The students turned the dial of the compass to 40° and walk 25 steps in that direction. After 25 steps the students added 120° (to a bearing of 160°) and walked 25 steps in that direction. Then students were asked to add another 120° (to a bearing of 280°) and walk 25 steps. At this point the students should have ended up back at the starting bottle cap. In this activity students made an equilateral triangle. If the student did not end up at the bottle cap, he/she was asked to try again.
The activity can be altered to have students walk farther (50-60 steps). Due to space limitations, the students were asked to only walk 25 steps in this activity. Also the starting direction can be any arbitrary compass direction. After each leg from a set direction the student must add 120° and eventually he/she will end up back at the beginning.
Most students did well with activity. The students who had the most trouble with the orienteering also did not master the 3 legged walk.
Activity 3—Simple Orienteering Course
Around campus I placed six orienteering markers on tree branches. Tied to each marker was a red orienteering punch. On the punch was labeled the punch number and bearing of the next marker. Students were required walk along that bearing direction until they reached the next marker. Once at the marker, the students punched the according box on their map and plotted the location of that particular marker accordingly on their map. The course took students around the science building.
Concerns:
The Kent State University Tuscarawas campus is cut by an access road. I wanted to design a course that would not take them over the access road but could not do it. In the end, I had the students cross across a parking lot and the access road. I tried to create a circular course so students could not have other groups lead them to the next marker. In the end, based on the location of objects and buildings I decided to have them cross these hazards. The students did not seem to mind, but in light of recent safety concerns I would have like to put a course together in a more contained environment. Post lab evaluations from students also indicated they would have rather not crossed the parking lot.