Google Earthis a game changer in the classroom and it brings geography lessons to a whole new level by providing an immersive interactive experience for students.
It’s an app that educators across the world have implemented within their classes to give students a richer hands-on experience and a better point of reference. As an example, while looking through images in a textbook is great, it doesn’t offer the same understanding as virtually walking down the streets of Japan using Google Earth. And it leaves adults asking “why wasn’t I lucky enough to have this in school?”.
In the last few years, we’ve seen remarkable finds from people using Google Earth. One that comes to mind was an article from 2007 where an amateur Archaeologist named Cor Schipper discovered a lost underwater castle (N 52°14’57 E 5°25’23) in Holland. The ancient castle of Hulckesteijn (1427-1538) is said to have slid underwater, appearing to be a large “L” in the water when viewing with Google Earth. Can you picture Indiana Jones using Google Earth? Maybe not but the quality of the satellite images make it possible for these types of amazing discoveries.
Science, mathematics, geography and history are just a few of the subjects where Google Earth can be used to as an effective teaching tool.
Ways that Schools can use Google Earth
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
Teachers can use KML files (keyhole markup language) to directly link to specific spots around the globe on Google Earth. It’s similar to “bookmarking” a site and it allows teachers to produce links for points of interest.
Google Earth can be used to encourage students to find things such as Volcanos, and some teachers have created a scavenger-like games out of researching the locations. This type of project has students investigate the locations of various volcanos and then has them apply the information by exploring and bookmarking using Google Earth. Teachers can check out theGlobal Volcanism Programfor access to numerous Google Earth placemarks.
At Dominion University, students are creatingteaching materialusing Google Earth andGoogle Sketch-up. They’ve included a series of KML files pointing to tectonic plates, mountain belts, volcanos etc. Students at the university have used Google Earth as a tool to show representations of earthquakes and the projections ofaftershocks.The school’s Google Earth Science project has received grants from the National Science Foundation.
Thefood mapping projectwas designed to help people visualize how their choices of food impacts the environment. Using Google Earth, Middlebury students are taking a look at the big picture, by mapping food from farm to plate. Where do all the ingredients come from in this chicken parmesan dinner? Students of the food mapping project have provided a KML file that displays a mapped representation of all of the ingredients; chicken, pasta, dairy products etc. Viewing the food maps highlight the impact of supporting local farmers and suppliers.
Middle/elementary schools have used Google Earth to teach students aboutlatitude and longitudeby asking students to record the coordinates of places. The exercise contains questions such as “”what country contains the coordinates 2 degrees south and 30 degrees east?”
Create media-rich lesson plans using video and Wikipedia. On a post atRandom Connection, it points out the process of how Google Earth can be used to create interactive lessons for students. Thearticlebrings readers through the steps of using placemarks, the Wikipedia layar and theKML circle generatorto find and mark the research on the map. Additionally, it mentions how YouTube, Vimeo and TeacherTube videos can be placed within Google Earth placemarks. Teachers could use these steps to create interactive virtual tours and lessons for students. And, students could travel to various placemarks and watch related videos about the location.
Cool Google Earth resources for teachers
Google Earth for educators– This site is brought to you by Google and made especially for Google Earth educators and students.
25 interesting waysto use Google Earth in the classroom.
Globe Genieuses Google Street-View to provide panoramic views of various streets around the world. It will transport users to random places to explore.
KMZ Linksprovides “spectacular satellite images of the world” and has KMZ files (KMZ files are zipped KML files) for interesting sand formations, crop circles, African villages and the Namid desert. There is also a great list of Google Earth resources at the bottom of the page.
Ken Mankoffhas created KML documents as part of a project in Antarctica with Andrill (ANtarctic geological DRILLing). Some of his research can be downloaded as a KML file that can be viewed with Google Earth.
Threadof elementary teachers discussing possible uses for Google Earth in the classroom.
Google Earth galleriesoffer tours to shipwrecks, castles and real-time earthquakes.
Story byBrodie Beta
Brodie Beta is a technology enthusiast with a passion for gadgets, media and anything related to the Web. She has worked in communications(show all)Brodie Beta is a technology enthusiast with a passion for gadgets, media and anything related to the Web. She has worked in communications and media for the past nine years. Follow her on twitterhere.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
