OER and Web 2.0 Teaching Part Four
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Part Four: Spatial Apps, and Workflows that Work
Spatial Tools: Google Earth
The final tool set we will look is spatial tools, and we'll use Google Earth as the main example of this.
For a quick overview of Google Earth, see the short introductory videos at http://earth.google.com/tour.html. Google Earth provides all kinds spatial and geographical data and information about the earth and now about the night sky as well.
Like many of the tools we have looked at, Google Earth has enough features built in so that you could spend hours just exploring what's there already. But it is also an open system, in the respect that you can add your own spatial data to what's there.
Activity: Getting to Know Google Earth
- Take a look at the introductory videos at http://earth.google.com/tour.html, and then look at the new features in Google Earth 4.3 here.
- If you haven't downloaded Google Earth yet, go to http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html and choose the right version for your system.
http://earth.google.com/outreach/index.html Google Earth Outreach "gives non-profits and public benefit organizations like yours the knowledge and resources you need to reach their minds and their hearts."
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php/Cat/0 has forums for discussing using Google Earth with students, or with teachers,
Activity: Placemark Your School
Demo: Adding a Map Overlay
Other Spatial Tools
National Geographic's Topo site provides "freely browsable topographic maps, aeiral imagery, hybrids, and a national recreation database."
Google Sketchup is an application that lets you make your own 3D buildings and models. It's a free download (although there is a paid "Pro" version as well). You can also use your models (buildings, etc) in Google Earth.) Download it here, then go here to learn how to use it.
Of course, don't overlook Google Maps.
Workflows that Work
Changing Students, Changing Teaching
Activity: Changing Students
View this video clip: Are Kids different because of Digital Media?
Think about the following questions:
- Do the students in the film represent the kinds of attitudes and behaviors you are seeing in the classroom? If not, why not?
- To what extent should schools be responding to the changes? Is it possible to be uncritical in our response? How do we know what the right response is?
- What one technology-related change has surprised you in the last two years among your students and their families?
- What have you done with technology that has surprised (in a good way) your students and/or their families?
Bringing it all together: Theory and Practice and Technology
Where is your own school in the transformation of learning to meet new opportunities and needs?
Resources:
Etoolkit.org offers a number of tools to help start conversations in your school and district about the powerful transformations possible. As they say on their site, "there is no one path to the school of tomorrow," but in starting the conversations and brainstorms at your school, you can begin to create the map to get you there.
One helpful idea in any kind of planning is envisioning the end state. When you have an idea of the end, you may begin to see some of the small steps (and big ones) needed to get you there. Also, putting out a big vision helps reduce the inevitable but unhelpful "realist" that says, "we'd like to but...". Etoolkit.org's Learning Ecosystem Poster shows one possible vision, and the ingredients needed from each kind of stakeholder to support that vision. Take a look here: http://etoolkit.org/etoolkit/map/poster.
