Let's say you had the opportunity to introduce school kids to the spatial world via a class that ran for the entire school year. A simple example would be introducing them to handheld GPS units and making them aware of how and why the numbers change. But, that leads to discussion of latitude and longitude and other rather deep thinking for younger minds. Concepts of GIS could be worked in introducing them to methods of linking data of all kinds to real world locations.
How soon is too soon to be offering such a program? Would Fourth Grade be too soon? Should it be delayed until high school or at least middle school? Is this something that could be done in a few weeks to grab their attention and encourage them to explore other classes such as advanced math and geography? Can you imagine trying to explain an ellipsoid to grade school kids?
Dad came when I was in 3rd grade and showed a film and we went out and did some field exercises and looked through the instruments.
Actually, probably 9th grade since that would cause those that find it interesting to focus on the math and statistics to go forward.
FWIW, I was not interested the summer after my 7th grade year through the summer after I graduated high school, but I had to work nevertheless. 🙂
After I made chief I really took a shine to it at 18 though. 🙂
Given youngsters grasp on technology it is hard to say if any grade is too young. Young minds are an amazing thing.
Well considering how technologically adept most young’uns are, I’d say 7th grade if they have taken algebra. My 10 year old Granddaughter can do things with a laptop and an iPhone that I didn’t know were possible. B-)
I-phones have built-in GPS or geolocators. They would already have the hardware, so they would just need to learn how to start the learning process from there.
I'd guess the wrong age..
if I ventured a guess. My 4 and 6 year old grandsons maneuver their tablet on the internet like a pro. The oldest one even figured out mommy's password and downloaded some new stories..
If their folks have a vehicle that's equipped with GPS, I bet the concept isn't so difficult.
I'm just sayin' they're all a lot smarter than we think...
I'd guess the wrong age..
I think the real key is relating a study to surveying. Back in the day when I was officiating soccer on a high level, my cohort was a school teacher. On one of our long road trips to a game, he mentioned something about his class studying Egyptian history. I mentioned to him about the "rope stretchers" coming in every year after the Nile flooded and setting out the partitions of land. The pyramids are another example. He asked me if I would come into class and give a talk about the rope stretchers etc. I did and it was fun for me and the students (5th grade). There were a few bulbs turned on and the kids got real excited about measurement of distances, angles etc. The EDM and the prism was a big hit. The teacher said the kids talked about it for weeks.
Pablo B-)
My grandson was reading maps when he was 5... I know, go figure! Anyway, he loves maps and has a partner/"big brother" who takes him geocaching at the age of 10. Kids will ask to their level of understanding. You don't need to teach them ellipsoids to teach them map reading, GPS, or a lot of that other stuff. Hell, probably 90% of the population that uses their navigation system has no idea what a compass direction is! lol
So start at any age, I say as young as 6. The lesson fits the attention span. The young ones like to find things. Older kids, maybe 10, want to run the technology and try different scenarios, maybe attached to a real map. Handheld GPS units is a great thing to start them on with some geocaching. Sownload some local stuff around the school and hide stuff. Each thing found includes a clue to the next one. At 10 they are old enough to team up and solve that problem.
I've loved maps all of my life, but never heard of an ellipsoid until the age of 38.
I agree with FL/GA above, 7th grade. Catch them when they are old enough to understand more of it but before they get into high school taking related math for dummies.
If my 8th grade math teacher had not made me sign up for algebra in the 9th grade, I wouldn't be surveying today.
James
My interest in surveying accelerated..
at pooberty.
You see, my Father was a surveyor and always had an old transit in his truck. Once I realized I could see into Miss Robin Rogers, the neighborhood hottie's bedroom window, with a transit, I was hooked.
If we ever quit using optical instruments all together the industry will suffer with a decreased influx of young voyeurs.
It depends on the structure of the class.
If you are proposing a classical type of course such as teacher lecture, workbooks, etc, then I would say about 8th grade.
But as others have said here and I agree, kids are very tech savvy at an early age.
Most schools realize this and are using tech equipment such as Smart interactive boards, computer lessons to teach.
Our son was exposed to Smart boards in elementary school and it is very beneficial to learning endeavors. His school used the Promethian board brand. Why? because it makes it interesting and fun plus the teacher can instantly track students to engage in the subject.
He has also been exposed to the Khan Academy as a 5th grader. He has learned advanced mathematical concepts such as probability, exponents etc. from Khan Academy lessons. Why? because they make it simple and the subject is not presented in a muddled manner. Simple talk with simple animated diagrams.
I was given a handheld GPS once as lagniappe once for a survey equipment. I gave to to him to use on car trips to track trips. He caught on as a 7 year old.
IMO, if you presented the material that you mentioned using a combination of a Promethean board and using a Khan Academy computer lesson approach...I think you can do it at a 5th grade level with no problem.
After all, explain an ellipsoid is really a very simple diagram and model theory concept.
