Observing geologic processes and landforms using Google Earth
Geomorphic processes are not limited to the local or regional area around the University and most students have not been outside of the region. With today's technology we are able to see features on the land surface in locations all over the world. I used a series of placemarks in Google Earth to take students around the globe to observe and discuss geologic processes and landforms.
Context
Audience: This exercise was used in an undergraduate course in geomorphology.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered: Before beginning the activity, students must be familiar with the processes and features that are associated with the placemarks.
How the activity is situated in the course: The activity is a stand-alone exercise that can even be used as a review.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity: The content/goals of the activity are for a student to see these processes in various regions of the world. To use the information that they have received in lecture and apply it to the identification of landforms and discuss the processes that contributed to their development.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity:
Other skills goals for this activity:
Description of the activity/assignment
For the assignment, the students are given a series of placemarks in Google Earth. Using Google Earth, the students 'fly' to various areas around the world. They examine the landforms at each placemark and answer questions regarding the formation of these features.
Designed for a geomorphology course
Uses online and/or real-time data
Has minimal/no quantitative component
Determining whether students have met the goals
The answers are graded.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Download teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment (Microsoft Word 32kB Apr25 08)
- Instructors Notes (Microsoft Word 26kB Apr25 08)
Other Materials
- .kmz file to be opened with Google Earth ( 3kB Apr25 08)
Supporting references/URLs
