{"id":478,"date":"2017-04-18T11:17:17","date_gmt":"2017-04-18T11:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/geteach.com\/blog\/?p=478"},"modified":"2017-04-18T23:21:12","modified_gmt":"2017-04-18T23:21:12","slug":"first-new-google-earth-learning-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geteach.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/18\/first-new-google-earth-learning-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"First New Google Earth Learning Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

So here they are…the first students in the world to explore the new Google Earth in the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Earlier this year several Round Rock ISD Westwood High School\u2019s 9<\/span>th<\/span> grade geography classes had the opportunity to be the first students \u00a0to explore the world using a new technology. \u00a0Below are some thoughts on this early journey integrating the new Google Earth in the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If I could sum up my initial thoughts on the new Google Earth it would be something like Cool, but limited! If you have that feeling now hold on this story gets better. The cool factors that most impressed me were features like the \u201cI\u2019m feeling lucky\u201d icon, where students can go and learn about random places on the Earth, don\u2019t forget to click on the info card; the voyager stories which are about awesome!!!! , especially the Austin\/Central Texas bat stories (However, my favorite is \u201cThis is home\u201d under culture tab ); and the fact that it could all work on a Chromebook. \u00a0The limited part mostly stems from the lack of creation tools and, oddly enough, that it can all work on a Chromebook (being browser based is a net gain, but has some cost…explained later). <\/span><\/p>\n

Through weeks of exploration I oscillated from Cool, but limited!.. to Cool with potential!.. to potentially \u00a0Cool!.. \u00a0and, after creating my first lesson and observing student engagement, ended up somewhere between awsome and awesome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, there are definitely areas of growth that hopefully Google will work through, but the foundational technology is here. First, the New Google Earth uses kml; a simple markup language that is easy to read\/ write and the language Google Earth desktop uses in its creation tools (see previous post<\/a>). Many current kml files created in Google Earth desktop will import into the new Google Earth. \u00a0However, being browser based, creators should be mindful of file size and the internet\u2019s same origin policy issues (<\/span>Read more here<\/span><\/a>). There are safe ways around both of these barriers, but that will be for future posts. Those issues aside, another cool foundational feature is the new Google Earth\u2019s integration with Google Drive. To me, this means that sharing Google Earth files (spatial data) is baked into the technology. \u00a0Imagine a world where you can share Google Earth creations as easily as Google docs, sheets, slides, etc. Hence the net gain for being browser based.<\/span><\/p>\n

This foundation that Google created gives students the opportunity to go and learn about places in the world, create meaningful stories and data sets, and share their knowledge\/creations with others. \u00a0And that is what these first explorers did in their first lessons. \u00a0Students created kml files via My Maps and exported\/imported them into the new Google Earth. Their teacher created a couple of Google Earth (kml) files that added to their exploration. Then the students applied their spatial observations with high quality content. \u00a0(More lesson details in future post)<\/span><\/p>\n

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In other words, the \u201cspirit of the old Earth\u201d is in the new Google Earth. Students, and adults, now have a web based platform to <\/span>go,learn,create, and share<\/b>. The new Google Earth is an easy tool to navigate, but with a seemingly endless amount of data; from satellite images, to information cards, to every student’s favorite…Street View, to incredible story tours in the voyager collects. \u00a0These data sets alone can hold a student’s attention for hours, all a teacher has to do is provide a little direction, or not, learning is going to happen no matter what. While not seamless, students can create knowledge with kml files via My Maps, Google\u2019s Tour Builder, or good old Google Earth. Lastly, students can share their kml files using Google Drive or even share their view of the Earth using the share icon built into the New Google Earth. If version one of the new Google Earth can accomplish this much, imagine what is to come in versions 2,3,4,5\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Happy exploring!<\/span><\/p>\n

Special thanks to Westwood High School<\/a>, Round Rock ISD<\/a>, the parents of these students, and especially the students for making this unforgettable moment possible. You all bring the world class to this community!<\/span><\/p>\n

Addition thanks to @earthoutreach<\/a> for your ongoing support of students and educators.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you are looking to experiment, feel free to use this tour site created for my students. Be warned…this was slapped together in a short time, so what could go wrong:)?<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/geteach.com\/tour<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

How to video\u00a0geteach.com\/tour<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n