Journal #7 - KM - Technology: Google Earth - NETS-T 2a

NETS-T 2a - DESIGN AND DEVELOP DIGITAL-AGE LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND ASSESSMENTS
- design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

The Google Earth tool is a digital tool that could be used to promote student learning and creativity. For example, students could use the Google Earth tool to trace the route taken by Lewis and Clarke across America. This would enhance students' learning in the social studies subject area, and make learning about history more exciting and fun.

This tool summary was written directly onto a "new post" on my blog using the Blogger tool.

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TECHNOLOGY: GOOGLE EARTH
1. Definition: Google Earth is an Internet program that includes a virtual globe of the Earth as well as information on mapping and geography. Utilizing satellite images, the GIS 3D globe, and aerial photographs, it creates maps of the Earth.

2. Report on what you learned from the tool:
-First Threaded Discussion: - Cross Curricular Uses of Google Earth
http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:58381
The discussion talked about ways to use Google Earth in the classroom in various curricular areas. One discussion talked about plotting a typhoon using Google Earth. Another contributor to the conversation explored the use of Google Earth with a science project where students visited the various biomes they were studying such as the taiga. Students not only read about the Taiga in their textbooks, but they were also able to visit the biome virtually via Google Earth. This helped the students better understand this biome and make more connections in science. Another educator suggested Google Earth for use in the language arts area. Educators used Google Lit Trips to place landmarks and comprehension questions about a current realistic or historical fiction book their students were reading at the places where events in the book occurred. In regards to social sciences students could also use Google Earth to take a virtual tour of the historical places they were studying like historical battlefield sites. They could also map the route taken by Paul Revere. It really helped make history come alive for these students.


-Second Threaded Discussion: - New Website for Teaching Math with Google Earth
http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:127632
This discussion focused on using Google Earth in the math curriculum. The creator of the discussion developed a website called "realworldmath.org" where Google Earth could be utilized to "spice up" often mundane math lessons. This educator was tired of bookwork and formal lecture in his math class curriculum. He wanted to make math come alive for his students and help them realize the real world uses and implications for math. His website has various lessons for educators to use such as: line patterns, mazes and labyrinths, estimating distance, and using Sierpinski Triangles. Contributors to the discussion loved his website. They loved how students could use what they learned from their math textbooks in the real world. They also thought that using Google Earth to make math connections with their students might encourage some students to pursue careers in mathematics.