With and Without Electronics

Sequence and Timing

At the VAHPERD workshops, we demonstrated activities with an electronic timing system. You do not need electronics to teach orienteering! We use it because it helps us make sure participants understand the activity, because kids love the beeping, and it frees us up from checking results to focus on teaching.

There are two main functions for the timing system: (1) checking that visited all the checkpoints in the right order, and (2) providing the elapsed time. Both of these things can be done without electronics!

Checking yourself at each checkpoint

Students should be taught how to check themselves that they visited the right checkpoints. This may be as simple as matching a picture to a card that they carry. You may have stickers, hole punches, or codes at each checkpoint that the students record onto a card they carry with them.

Timing individuals

There is a timing component built in to some of these lessons, and orienteering is normally a timed sport (similar to cross country running, cycling, skiing, speed skating, etc.). Timing students as they participate is an excellent way to encourage them to develop their speed, improve their skills, and even practice their memory. It can also provide competition for students who are interested.

It is important to remember, however, that not all students feel comfortable being timed, especially when this is a new activity they are still learning. Even when timing is used, it’s important to emphasize accuracy in orienteering as opposed to raw speed. Finding all of the correct checkpoints is more important than finding them quickly.

Timing the whole class

Timing is also used to measure the success of the class overall. This is a very effective way of uniting the students, developing their teamwork, and emphasizing cooperation. In addition, it establishes the expectations that the students are working together as a class, and that every person’s individual actions can affect the group as a whole. It encourages the practice of helping each other learn.

About the electronic timing system

For those interested in the electronic timing system, which is used in most club orienteering events:

Intro Instructions for SPORTident Equipment - https://sites.google.com/navigationgames.org/management/programs/equipment-materials/epunch-equipment

Analysis Spreadsheet - https://sites.google.com/d/1oakXXFsR7nLvIDemmmtB_rL_2sMkyPfq/p/1zOoPMidSQFtnlyakUSUEdby4BNoZKe6E/edit

SPORTident Center - https://center.sportident.com/

SPORTident Config+ - https://www.sportident.com/products/96-software/156-sportident-config-plus.html

EasyGec (Website is in French) - http://t.porret.free.fr/lienlogiciel.php?idmenu=60