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1. “Google Earth as a (Not Just) Geography Education Tool” Patterson, T. C. Google Earth as a (Not Just) Geography Education Tool. Journal of Geography,

106:4, 145-152.

2. “Got the World on a Screen” Adam, A. & Mowers H. (2007) Got the World on a Screen. School Library Journal, 40-42.

3. “Having Fun With Google Earth” Butler, D. (2008). Having Fun With Google Earth. Mathematics teaching Incorporating

Micromath, 28-30.

“Google Earth as a (Not Just) Geography Education Tool”

The article presents Google Earth as a method to strengthen geography curriculum. Since the majority of schools cannot afford a true Geographic Information Science (GIS) application, nor are there teachers who know how to use such programs. Google Earth is the best alternative. Use of the program will improve spatial thinking, critical analytical skills, and prepare students for future GIS in post-secondary schooling.

By Todd C. Patterson

5 Points of a Lesson Plan(1) asking geographical questions(2) gathering geographical information(3) organizing geographical information(4) displaying geographical information(5) answering geographical questions

“Studies have demonstrated that the use of online resources has helped to improve student comprehension of major concepts and skills while also helping students gain confidence in their knowledge of geographic issues.”

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“Google Earth as a (Not Just) Geography Education Tool”

Google Earth can be used to meet the National Science Education Standards of 1995

(1) being used in lessons that question how humans obtain and use earthmaterials as resources (2) asking students to describe features of the earth(3) inferring how human behavior changes the earth’s surface(4) measuring distances(5) using other thinking and analytical capacities

Patterson’s Seventh Grade Lesson Plan

knowledge (memorizing, recognizing, recalling) comprehension (organizing, describing, interpreting) application (applying information, solving problems, finding new ways to use information) analysis (finding underlying structures, separate whole into components, identify motives and hidden meanings) synthesis (compiling, combining)evaluation (making value decisions and judgments)

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“Google Earth as a (Not Just) Geography Education Tool”

This article was enlightening for me as a future social studies teacher on the expectations in geography education. The article presents the guidelines and expectations in educating children about geography. The author also provides ideas and methods of teaching students with Google Earth. By using programs like Google Earth, teachers can prepare students for future careers in GIS.

Critique

Taj Mahal: India

“Got the World on a Screen”By Anne Adam & Helen Mowers

Adam and Mowers discuss the use of Google Earth in geography and history pedagogy. They describe the various options the program offers to teach students about the world. The authors encourage teachers to be more than “tourists” but learn to use and teach with the more technical aspects of the Google Earth.

“While students in the old-school classroom —the one with the globe—can certainly learn to identify their state, it's difficult for them to get a sense of their relative place in the world. In contrast, the students using Google Earth can locate and placemark their school and, therefore, better orient themselves, even when the globe is zoomed out completely and their school fades from view.”

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“Got the World on a Screen”

The Starting Point: Visit the Google Earth home page to download the program at earth.google.comGoogle Earth 101 for Educators: A wiki-based introduction for teachersteachinghacks.com/wiki/in<iex.php?tiUe=Google_Earth_101_for_ EducatorsThe Google Earth Education Communityedweb.tusd.kl2.az.us/dhemng/ge/googieearth.htmGoogle Earth Blog: News, updates, and advice on using Google Earthwww.gearthblog.comGoogle Earth Lessonswww.glessons.com/lessonsThe Cheat Sheet: Google Earth tips from the Tech Chicks (the writers) Techchicktips.net/wiki/tiki-indeK.php?page=Google+Earth+for+Teachers

Recommended Resources from the Authors

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“Got the World on a Screen”

Adam and Mowers provide great examples of the use of Google Earth in the classroom from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The links and sources they provide are helpful in learning more about Google Earth. The authors believe Google Earth can be used in the lower elementary grades. Since I will be a secondary school teacher, I do not know about elementary education. I doubt how successful Google Earth would be in teaching younger children. In all grades, teachers should also rely on the old-fashioned maps because that is what appears in books and on paper. Flat maps are still the best way to test basic geographic knowledge, like locating U.S. states and world countries.

Critique

The Pentagon: Arlington, VA

“Having Fun With Google Earth” By Douglas Butler

Butler takes a turn from the traditional uses of Google Earth for geography, history, and science and encourages the use of the program in math, especially geometry. Using images like the Pentagon, the Great Pyramids, and even airport runways, students can apply math to real-world characteristics and problems.

“All I do know is that there seems to be growing evidence

that teaching with dynamic images (from software and the web) can make mathematics lessons more effective, more efficient, and certainly a lot

more fun.”

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Useful Tools to Apply Math in Google Earth

Screen Download Protractor from Iconico, Inc.--Download at www.iconico.com/protractor

Sketchup--3D Construction Program by Google--Download at www.sketchup.google.com

Autograph--Graphing Layer--Download at www.autograph-maths.com

Airport Runways--The impact of wind direction and speed on airplanes take-offs and landings--Download at www.windfind.com/windreports/windkarte_world.htm

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“Having Fun With Google Earth”

Critique

I hadn’t considered using Google Earth as a tool for applying and understanding math—especially geometry. This article also exposed me to the varieties of programs that have been created to work with Google Earth. Although I don’t understand the math lessons Butler writes about, I can imagine students being more engaged in learning the subject and understanding the usefulness of math in everyday life.

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In Conclusion

Important Things I Learned About Google Earth

Varieties of programs and layers can be downloaded into Google Earth to assist with your lesson plans.

Historical maps (and others) can be imported into Google Earth and used as comparisons to current maps.

Google Earth is a stepping stone for using GIS systems.

Google Earth can be used for math applications. For example, downloading wind reports to better understand airport runways and airplane take-offs.