Google Earth- Absolutely Amazing

This picture was taken through google earth

The technology I explored this week was google earth. I had played around with google earth years ago but all I really did was search my house so this week I took it to the next level. I found that you can search so many things like geographical landforms, places, and they even have a google sky now. I was also shocked to see how accurate and clear this form of technology has gotten. It is amazing how a satellite view of the earth can be transferred onto our computers and fall into our laps.

After downloading this to my computer, which took less than two minutes, I spend the next half hour searching. I am going to South Africa this summer and staying in Cape Town so that was my first stop around the world. We are going to travel to Table Mountain and this landform was labeled on the map so I had no problems finding it. I can not believe the detail! I felt as if I was actually on an air plane looking into the city. There were houses, streets, buildings, pools, expressways, absolutely everything!

Now that I am done traveling the world I have a million lesson ideas that could go along with this technology. Younger children have a really difficult time thinking about places outside of their own "world" and google map can expand their perspective. It is easy to talk about a certain place and point to a one dimensional map, but google map takes this to the next level and children can actually see what these places look like. Africa is not just a country and a body of land but it turns into a country, with cities, buildings, streets, bodies of water, and everything children see in their own world. Children can explore google maps through projects, class discussions, and even learning about their own neighborhood and what a birds eye view would look like.

In regards to TPACK, content is completely enhanced through google map. Students are able to learn new content in geography and really grasp places around the world. It is a technological tool that enhances pedagogy and the way teachers teach about the world. It allows children to relate to these places and see differences and similarities in their own environments.

Check it out it is absolutely amazing!