Google Earth
submitted by Glenn Richard, Stony Brook UniversityGeneral Description
Uses of the Program
Many surface geological features are visible in the standard Google Earth layers. In addition educators and developers have created vector data and overlays to provide more detailed geological information. The Enterprise version of Google Earth is especially designed for industry.
Audience and Setting
Google Earth is suitable for nearly all audiences. It can be used to display data to groups ranging from large lecture hall courses to younger early elementary school classes. In computer laboratory settings it is useful for inquiry-based exploration by teams or individual students. With laptops and cached imagery it can be used in the field with the option of interacting with GPS devices.
Examples of Educational use
Examples from the SERC collections:
Teaching with Google Earth - a detailed guide with examples
A collection of activities using Google Earth
Teaching Geologic Map Interpretation with Google Earth
Gallery of images for teaching geologic mapping and map interpretation
General Examples:
New York Landscape Regions in Google Earth
Google Earth Lessons
How to Get the Software
Google Earth is available in a free version. Additional versions are Google Earth Plus, Google Earth Pro, and an Enterprise version.
How to Use this Software
Instructional materials from the SERC collections:
How to Teach with Google Earth
Google Earth User Guide
Working with KML
General Examples:
Google Earth Tutorials
Google Earth User Guide
Designing and Creating Earth Science Lessons with Google Earth
References
- Google Earth: A Public Meeting Place for Diverse Earth System Data (PowerPoint 11.4MB Feb11 08), a presentation from the 2008 workshop on Teaching with New Geoscience Tools.
- Google Earth Educational Resources - a large index of Google Earth links, including educational content, instructional links and more.