teaching with google earth

Meg Stewart January 23, 2013

Virtual globes

CelestiaCelestia World WindWorld Wind

ArcGIS ArcGIS ExplorerExplorer

Moon

Venus

Mars

Advantages of Google Earth

• Easy to use• Cross-platform• Making place marks (points, lines,

polygons)• Image overlays• Easy to share files (KML or KMZ)• No cost (it’s free!)

Disadvantages of Google Earth

Can’t query, buffer, or clip data as in GIS

Can’t do quantitative analysisCan’t do cartographyThere is no stated accuracy

Google Earth for Teaching

Loaded with geographically contextual information

Appropriate for educational use on a wide range of topics and disciplines

Useful for inquiry-based activitiesHas a large and active user communityCan easily be incorporated into lecture

discussion

What is KML or KMZ?KML is like DOC, XLS, or PPT. It is

the file extension for a Google Earth project file

KML stands for Keyhole Markup Language

KMZ stands for Keyhole Markup Language Zipped

Scholarly uses of Google Earth

http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/dherring/ge/googleearth.htm

Art – History – Literature - Science

Trinidad and Water Issues

Lois Gibbs and her children

Love CanalLove Canal

Burma

Kyaukpyu, 25 October, 2012

Kyaukpyu, 9 March 2012

http://ogleearth.com/2012/10/imagery-of-sectarian-destruction-in-burmas-rakhine-state-now-on-google-earth/

The Grenadines

The Grenadines

The Grenadines

Network links to real-time data

Rome – Then and Now

Mississippi River tour

Earth Science

Source--Steve Whitmeyer: http://csmres.jmu.edu/Geollab/Whitmeyer/web/visuals/visualizations.html

Algeria

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/18/world/africa/site-of-kidnapping-in-algeria.html

Ocean

Moon

Contact: meg.stewart@fulbrightmail.org