Google Earth 5.0

1. Google Earth 5.0 By: David Nour and Roxie Truax

2. About Google Earth • Virtual globe, map, and geographic information program. • Displays satellite images of varying resolution of the Earth's surface • See buildings and structures in 2D and 3D • Available in 38 languages • Video

3. Strengths of Google Earth • Instant global view • Different layers that allow you to see latitude and longitude, terrain view, additional info and pictures • Tour our solar system, the Milky Way, and much of the visible universe in Google Sky • Easy enough for young children to get started, yet powerful and detailed enough for professionals • Create and save virtual tours • View pictures from history in various locations. • 2D and 3D images available • Google Earth 5.0 is available in 38 languages • Students can study the growth of communities by using the time feature (allows the students to go back ten or twenty years)

4. Weaknesses of Google Earth • Large learning curve, really need to spend a substantial amount of time getting to know all of the features • Need for constant internet connection • Coordinates and addresses not always accurate • Advanced functions can be difficult and time consuming to master • Time needed to download on multiple classroom computers and guide students when first using the program • Pictures are not always up to date and some functions, such as street view, are not always available

5. Simple Ideas for the Classroom • Have students locate places where they’ve been on vacation or where they are going. • Explore major landmarks and geographical features around the globe • Virtual field trips • Create and save virtual tours

6. Now you try… • Try to locate your home! Type in your exact address and see what you find. • Find out when Mount Rushmore National Monument was completed. • View the Gateway Arch from a street view. Video • Try to locate your favorite sports complex (arenas, stadiums, fields, ect.) Find three facts that you didn’t know about it. • How tall is the Eiffel Tower? Take a glance from the street view. • Find directions from your home to USF(1101 W 22nd St)

7. Flight Simulator • features the ability to fly to any supported locations of the world. • pilot can choose any location to start a flight or attempt to land a flight anywhere. • 2 featured planes. F-16 Fighting Falcon (advanced) and Cirrus SR-22 (beginners). • What Flight Simulator is suppose to look like  Video

8. Google Sky • Google Sky • Use Google Sky to explore the far reaches of our universe. • Maps are updated every five minutes.

9. Strengths • Allows users to explore the night sky during school hours • Detailed space imagery and zoom feature to see individual stars. • Gives students a visual when talking about difficult concepts. • Students can learn the difference between astronomy and astrology • An historical overlay shows the constellations and their placement in the sky

10. Weaknesses • Can be a bit confusing when one first begins to use it • Dragging and general operation from the web based version can be slow • May be out of the zone of proximal development for young children

11. Simple Ideas for the Classroom • Have a stargazing experience in the middle of the day • Teach children about the constellations and then be able to physically show them the various constellations • Young children can be shown the planets in our solar system, along with other planets in other solar systems