Google Earth
Google Earth is a free application that allows user to gain extensive knowledge on world we live on. Users can explore every part of the world, create virtual tours and measure distances between places. As mentioned, Google Earth is free, however it does need to be download (can be downloaded on pc/mac or iPad) but this is a small download and should not take too much time on an average network connection. Below is an example of how Google Earth can be used to do a virtual tour of some football stadiums around the world.
Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal Old Trafford, Manchester, England Wembley Stadium, London, England
Google Earth is fantastic tool that can immerse students in our world. It provides them with a stimulus they wouldn't get just from looking pictures in a book, instead they are able to travel to the places as if they were really there. Google Earth can be used in classrooms to take virtual school trips, students can research cities and locate the various famous landmarks each city has. It is great tool that has many uses, especially in the areas of history and geography.
There are however some negatives to Google Earth. It can be unresponsive and laggy at times, which can take the immersion out of experience. However for the majority of the time the app runs smoothly and has a small amount of lag when switching to street view.
One interesting feature of Google Earth is the ability to use it in offline mode. This does however require some set up, but it is not an overly difficult process and there are many tutorials available online that go over the preparation process (one such example).
Overall Google Earth is a amazing tool that allows for students to do things they previously would not have been able to do without physically going to the place. In terms of the SAMR model, Google Earth fits in the redefinition category, because as mentioned, it allows students the opportunity do view the world in ways that would not be possible without the app. For Bloom's taxonomy it fits in the evaluating category.
There are however some negatives to Google Earth. It can be unresponsive and laggy at times, which can take the immersion out of experience. However for the majority of the time the app runs smoothly and has a small amount of lag when switching to street view.
One interesting feature of Google Earth is the ability to use it in offline mode. This does however require some set up, but it is not an overly difficult process and there are many tutorials available online that go over the preparation process (one such example).
Overall Google Earth is a amazing tool that allows for students to do things they previously would not have been able to do without physically going to the place. In terms of the SAMR model, Google Earth fits in the redefinition category, because as mentioned, it allows students the opportunity do view the world in ways that would not be possible without the app. For Bloom's taxonomy it fits in the evaluating category.