Teach Secondary Issue 14.8

High performance GPS tracking for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions that offers rich learning possibilities TrackTrail® 1 PROFESSIONAL TRACKING WITHOUT TECHNICAL BARRIERS TrackTrail® provides GPS trackers for hire or purchase, which students attach to their rucksacks. The devices transmit location data via satellite and/or cellular technology and work reliably, even in remote areas. Teachers can view student locations on a web-based map that’s accessible from any phone, tablet or laptop, with no extra downloads or software installs required. Organisations can hire TrackTrail® trackers from £15 per weekend, or purchase devices outright for £125 (with approximately £50 annual running costs). Free support is available around the clock for no extra charge. 2 PRESERVE STUDENTS’ INDEPENDENCE A key challenge of Duke of Edinburgh expeditions is the need to preserve the independence and self-reliance that characterises the award, whilst also maintaining students’ safety. TrackTrail® completely solves this issue by making the tracking invisible to the students’ experience. They will still use a map and compass, make their own decisions and develop resilience through real outdoor challenges. The teachers simply maintain the oversight needed to fulfil their duty of care, whilst students get to experience genuine adventure. 3 KNOW WHERE GROUPS ARE AT ALL TIMES When a group is late to camp, and their phones have no battery or signal, expedition leaders face an impossible situation. Parents may be calling for updates, while tired volunteers are deployed into the darkness, in the hope that they’ll be searching the right areas. TrackTrail® eliminates this problem by showing exactly where every group is – even in remote terrain – and accurately estimating their arrival time at camp, thus changing everything about expedition logistics. 4 DEPLOY STAFF WHERE THEY’RE NEEDED TrackTrail® shows where each group is in real time. This means that expedition leaders can position staff strategically based on evidence, rather than estimates. When a group has taken a wrong turn, they can be intercepted at their current location and given mentoring. This efficient deployment makes better use of limited volunteer capacity, whilst maintaining the educational value of navigational mistakes. Staff can be in the right place at the right time to support students’ learning, and avoid the frustration of lengthy, uninformed waits at checkpoints. 5 STUDENTS WILL LEARN MORE After the expedition, the exact path each group took can be replayed in the web-based TrackTrail® platform, allowing them to review their navigational decisions in detail. Traditional debriefing often relies on students’ own hazy recollections and estimations. TrackTrail®’s ‘breadcrumb trail’ facilitates evidence-based discussions about their navigational decisions. Did they mistake that stream for the river? Did they misread the contour lines on that slope? Students can see exactly where they might have made mistakes, and better understand how to improve. This scaffolds skill development for future expeditions. Key Points TrackTrail® achieves student independence on expeditions whilst ensuring safety and peace of mind for all involved. Simple to use – no downloads, no software, no technical barriers. Access the tracking platform from any device. Hire trackers from £15 per weekend. Professional- grade tracking without the enterprise price tag. Safety shouldn’t be a budget compromise for any school. Turn mistakes into learning moments with breadcrumb trail reviews during debriefs, which will improve navigation for future expeditions. REASONS TO TRY… 5 30 SECOND BRIEFING TrackTrail® provides GPS tracking for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, giving teachers real-time student locations, even in remote areas. Students explore independently whilst teachers maintain oversight and peace of mind. Contact: Call 01905 570 880 to find out how we can support your next expeditions (quote ‘TeachSecondary’ between November 2025 and February 2026 for a free trial) expedition- tracking.com PA R T N E R C O N T E N T 35 teachwire.net/secondary