Library Lunchable: Google Earth for

EducatorsPresented by : Laura Wilson, Reference Librarian

Framingham State CollegeJuly 8, 2009

What is Google Earth?Free* (!) software program

Download from the internet at:http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

A “virtual globe” that allows users to explore countless different features , including :

Urban and rural terrain 3D image models of popular terrain and buildings Places of interest Photos and videos related to a specific location Historical imagery, stars, celestial bodies,

underwater terrain, and much, much more!

How does it work?The software displays high-resolution aerial

photos and satellite imagery of the Earth’s surfaceVarying degrees of detail

More popular areas have better quality images United States and Europe images tend to be more

detailedImages range in currency

3 months – 5 years ago (not live images)

What are we looking at?

3D Buildings

A view of the Grand Canyon

How do I get started?After you have downloaded the software, a

Google Earth icon will be installed on your desktop.

Google Earth icon

Click me!Google Earth

icon.Click me!

This is your starting point:

Type address, location name,

or latitude / longitude co-

oridnates

Here is the location!

Framingham State College

Notice the “Layers” feature…

Layers

Viewing “Layers”Layers display different types of interesting

geographic contentFor example:

National Geographic Magazine layer: displays images and stories related to the area from NatGeo.

Panoramio layer: displays beautiful and interesting images related to the area.

YouTube layer: displays videos related to the area*

Wikipedia layer: displays articles about the area

Many more layers to explore!

Google Earth in the ClassroomGoogle Earth has been used to teach students

in nearly every disciplineIt’s easyIt’s excitingIt’s fun!

Allow students to explore and learn through Google Earth by themselves, or create a tour of your own!Tours can include images and audio that you

input

Ideas for subject areas:Geography – obvious!History – create your own overlay map for a

particular siteOverlays are maps either scanned from a

computer or taken from the web, and dropped over the site Engraving showing London after the great fire Concentration camps around the 3rd Reich Using GoogleSketchUp and historical overlays,

students can recreate entire ancient cities Google SketchUp is another software program that

allows you to create, modify and share 3D modelsExplore Tutankhamun’s Tomb

Ideas… cont.Biology – Track routes of chimpanzees in

Tanzania’s Gombe Forest, or migration patterns of sea turtles

Geology – Find images, links and descriptions of thousands of volcanoes around the world

Literature – Take a virtual tour of the setting of a book

Math – Explore distance, velocity and wave properties of tsunamis

Content already availableUse the Google Earth Gallery to download

tours made and rated by other Google Earth usersCathedrals 3D TourArt Museums 3D TourRising Sea Level animationSites of Ancient RomeWorld Oil ConsumptionHistoric Fort Monroe… and many more!

Teacher testimonies

“To really teach about these places, we have to get beyond flat maps on a flat screen.” - Diane Favro

“The program provides opportunities for students to be curious, to explore, wonder, and discover beyond typically structured lessons.” - Tom Stahley

For more information: Spring, T. (2009). Getting your feet wet with google ocean. PC World, 27(4), 24-24.

Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.fscproxy.framingham.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=37035064&site=ehost-live

Stahley, T. (2006). Earth from above.(google earth). The Science Teacher, , 44-48. Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com.fscproxy.framingham.edu/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=EAIM&docId=A157773209&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupName=fst&version=1.0

Turner, W., & McLaughlin, C. (2009). ACTIVITY: The incredible shrinking earth: Google earth for today's adventurer. Technology & Children, 13(3), 4-5. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.fscproxy.framingham.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=37218466&site=ehost-live

Vergano, D. (2009). Egyptian temple virtually restored. USA Today, April 23 Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.fscproxy.framingham.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=J0E301264223609&site=ehost-live

Useful sites:Google for Educators – Google Earth http://

www.google.com/educators/p_earth.htmlGoogle Earth for Educators Discussion Group http://

groups.google.com/group/google-for-educators?Ink=gschgGoogle Earth Lessons http://gelessons.com/lessons/Google Earth Gallery http://

www.google.com/gadgets/directory?synd=earth&cat=featured Google Earth Blog http://www.gearthblog.com/reference.htmlCreating Content in Google Earth http://

strengthofweakties.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/creating-content-in-google-earth.pdf

Creating a Google Earth Tour http://googleearthdesign.blogspot.com/2009/02/howto-create-simple-tour.html