GOOGLE EARTH

GOOGLE EARTH

The technology I chose to explore this week is Google Earth. I chose this technology for many reasons. First off I believe it could be used in the classroom for learning in many different ways and different subjects. I also have seen it used in my classes before but had never experienced it myself and wanted to learn more. Lastly I love Google and there is nothing better than exploring new things and getting actual pictures and images of things. It is incredibly fascinating.

This site allows the user to see pretty much anything you could ever imagine in the world. You are able to look at 3D buildings, terrain, cities, local businesses and so much more.  Through this technology, almost any place a user can imagine, Google Earth can take them there. Not only is the user able to see anything they want through this site, they are also able to see things from points of view they would never otherwise be able to. That is a really exciting part about this site, the user is able to look down on the Earth from up in outer space and look down on world from a point of view they normally never see. This site allows the user to see the world in a totally new and exciting way. This sight is ready for all users, whether they are beginners or advanced. It is very easy to maneuver through this sight and has many tutorials and help available on the site. I believe this sight could be used by children as well as adults and would be effective, beneficial and interesting for all ages. At the typing of a word (specific location) and the click of a button this sight can take you to that place and allow you to see from a 3Dview. You can even create a tour if you want to get more advanced on the sight. You do this by selecting numerous locations and create a sort of trip for yourself to these different spots. You can add sound and other things to the tour again to be more advanced.

This technology goes along with TPAK.

This is because students would have the ability to use their own skills- intelligence and prior knowledge coupled with the information that is available to them through Google Earth when they are on the website and taking part in the task/lesson going on that is teaching them.

Pedagogical  Knowledge+Content Knowledge+ technological knowledge = TPAK

 Specifically a way in which you could use this in the classroom could be in science unit- astronomy. Through Google Earth the user has the ability to explore the moon, different planets, starts and all that exists in the sky. This could be a great tool to use when studying the location of the planets in the sky and in studying the different planets. Allowing the students to get a real 3D visual of the planets allows them to get a physical representation of what they are learning and is incredibly interesting and exciting for the students. Google Earth could as well be used in a Math unit-measurement. With Google Earth students have the ability to measure almost anywhere in the world they like. When going through a tutorial I was able to find that through Google Earth students can use rulers, shapes, measurements and all sorts of tools to figure out locations, and distances of certain places while practicing using important tools such as rulers.