Digital Tool 13: Google Earth and Digital Tool 14: Google Maps

Google Earth & Google Maps

Google Earth!!! Who would ever have thought that such a tool would ever be made.  Google Earth is a digital tool that allows you to travel across the world without leaving your chair.  This tool uses a form of satellite navigation and video imagery to locate a place or space anywhere in the world.  It can be used to locate a specific address or just a location name (e.g. Eiffel Tower).  The visual graphic zooms out to a world view then rotates around the globe until the country location is reached, then zooms in to the specific address location that was requested.  It has enhancement tools that can also be used to enhance the graphics of the chosen location, for example the time of day can be changed, as well as the time of year, and the year.  All of these features could be of interest if the location is one that is related to changes in history or climatic change.
With Google Earth there is a program that is required to be downloaded to be able to access the website features. (http://earth.google.com/)


Google Maps.  To access Google Maps it is simply a matter of pulling up the search engine Google and locating the word "Maps' in the top left hand corner (google.com.au/maps).  As with Google Earth, an address or location anywhere is the world can be used and the search engine locates first a map address of the area, with a pin that pinpoints the address that was requested.  Google Maps does not have the global features of Google Earth, but it is similar features in its locating either a place or space anywhere in the world.

PLUS

1. Both programs are visually engaging.  Particularly Google Earth which gives the visual impact of travelling around the world. (This would fit in well with youtube clip Blue Beauty )
2. Easy to use by either address or name location.
3. Can be used across the Key Learning Areas of the curriculum.  It would only be dependent on the content topic of unit plan.
4. Engaging for students (and adults) of all ages.
5. Excellent planning, research and reference tool.
6. Compared to other digital tools, there is not a lot of time required for setting up, or downloading information.  It is fairly instant, which adds to its appeal.
7. Could be used as a spur of the moment if students are engaging in substantive conversations about geographical locations or countries.

MINUS

1. Should only be used for good and not 'evil'.
2. Students should consider privacy issues prior to locating addresses of particular people.

INTERESTING IMPROVE IMPLEMENT

Both digital tools are truly incredible, particularly Google Earth.  The ease of use and adaptability is quick and easy to use.  The information that it offers is accurate.  It's use in the classroom is unlimited and would only be dependant on the topic content as to where and what was looked up.  From the rice fields of Asia to the beaches of Gallipoli, and the Great Barrier Reef to the Volcano explosion in Iceland.  In the classroom I would us this tool when discussing world events or places that were daily topics of news/interest to the students.
It could be used to compare and classify countries or regions or cities.  For example compare the canals of Venice Italy to the Highways of Los Angeles California, or the Rainforest's of P.N.G. to the Simpson Dessert of Australia.  
Across the KLA a unit could rest on the use of Google Earth and Google Maps to engage the students.  They could be required to plan a holiday to anywhere making sure they land in each continent; use the correct currency; visit a historical place of interest; eat a local delicacy; find a hotel near a monument; use the local language; research climate for the time of year that they want to travel; consider global climate issues eg volcanos in Iceland, war in Afghanistan.  This sounds like a great idea for a Web Quest....What do you think?

WHAT I THINK?
I love both of these tools.  I used them last year when we were planning a trip to Disneyland Anaheim USA.  We researched the hotel addresses through wotif.com  then looked up the maps to locate how far the hotels were from restaurants and the places we wanted to go.  Our children enjoyed doing this with us, and were part of the planning.  The interesting thing was that when we got there we actually got to see what it was like for real, and the pre-planning made things a lot easier for the kids to understand just how big everything was and where it all was located because they could relate it back to what they had seen through Google.  As previously stated, the use of these tools is unlimited and only dependent on the topic-content of the unit or lessons plans to which it is to be used.