Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Journal #4: Google Earth


Journal 4: Google Earth

Google Earth is an online tool in which a person can enter the longitude and latitude coordinates of any location on Earth and view a satellite picture of this location. The pictures are by my estimate about 2 to 3 months old and the clarity is good enough to recognize familiar locations. Once a user is focused on a location, they can focus in and “walk around” the area. In short, Google Earth creates a 3D environment for any location on Earth.
Google Earth has many realistic educational applications. While researching this technology tool, I found many ideas for classroom activities that could incorporate science, mathematics, ecology, geology, and geography. Because Google Earth uses longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates, the program has an obvious application in mathematics. Population studies are also an obvious way to take advantage of this program. Students might choose a location, and use the program to study population changes over time. One educator suggested that students who are studying different biomes might make use of the technology by “visiting” these different biomes of the Earth. Students that have trouble connecting to flat pictures and texts as they are “walking” through the different environments. Through my research, I also found another educator with an idea to track weather patterns. One classroom has been following a hurricane over the course of a week and then later tracking and making notes of the damage that has incurred as a result of the storm. Google Earth is a great educational tool because it has real-world applications. Students begin to understand the type of work that mathematicians, ecologists, and environmentalists do.
Question #1: I want to teach Language Arts/English. Could I use Google Earth in my classroom?
I have a few ideas as to how Google Earth could enhance an English classroom. Any project in which students are interacting with other students or people in another part of the world would be a great time to introduce Google Earth. For instance, students have a “writing buddy” in another part of the country or world. They can use Google Earth to track the weather patterns, population sizes, etc. of their buddy. This will enhance the conversations that they are having.
Question #2: Is Google Earth appropriate for a middle school classroom?
I read quite a few posts about some parents have some concerns about Google Earth, calling it “virtual spying”. There will be many parents who are uncomfortable with the technology, and this is probably simply because they are unfamiliar with it. It might help to post an informational blog on the classroom website about this program, or any others that I am using. I should also be mindful to be very clear what the purpose is of using this technology in the classroom and how it will enhance the curricular objective.

2 comments:

Sarah said...

Hi Andrea,

What an interesting article! I've used Google Earth before, to look at my house. I had never considered that there would be so many educational applications for it as well. I think your ideas for using it in English sound great!

Carissa Anderson said...

The practical applications of Google Earth are pretty amazing. As you listed in your journal, using Google Earth for Geology, Geography, weather patterns, and whatnot would come in very handy in a science classroom. I did also like how you addressed using this tool as an English teacher, and I think your ideas are great!