TEACHING WITH GOOGLE EARTH - AN ONLINE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

Google Earth offers many exciting pathways for teaching about a variety of geoscience topics. To help educators use this dynamic tool in their classrooms, this web-based guide provides a comprehensive roadmap to teaching with Google Earth. The website, which is hosted by the Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College, presents techniques and examples of how Google Earth can be used to support activities such as hands-on inquiry, homework assignments, dynamic lecture presentations, creation of imagery and maps, and data retrieval and distribution for research projects. It is also ideal for enrichment of discussions that arise spontaneously during informal classroom discussions.

The website is designed for educators with a range of knowledge about using Google Earth, from novice to expert. It includes sections on reasons for teaching with Google Earth, fundamentals of Google Earth with several methods for getting started, potential uses for both students and teachers, how to teach with Google Earth, a user guide with step-by-step instructions and screen shots, and a one-page summary guide to the user interface. For those who are technologically oriented, the module offers a guide to KML, which is a standard format for storing and distributing geographic data, with specific examples and information about creating customized interactive maps with the Google Earth API and Google Maps.

Over 25 different Google Earth activities provide educators with ready-to-use examples for fostering interdisciplinary exploration of complex real-world topics such as living with dynamic landscapes, sustainability issues, climate change, plate tectonics, and structural geology. Because Google Earth is free to download and easy to use, the content and techniques presented here can readily be deployed for use in a variety of geoscience educational venues. This presentation will include informal discussion and demonstrations of educational activities designed for use with Google Earth. The Teaching with Google Earth website can be found at http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/google_earth/.