The blog has been archived after a series of hacking attempts that resulted in the loss of many of the images.
The content is online once more, mainly so that I can repair some of the key posts.
In the meantime, all new Google Earth material continues to be published at Digital Geography
The recent hacking of this blog, and subsequent loss of all the images, has resulted in my decison to publish all new Google Earth-related teaching ideas and news on my Digital Geography blog.
Readers who subscribe might want to re-direct their RSS links. Thanks for all the support.
Cheers
Noel
The blog was hacked. Although the offending code has been removed and the database upgraded many of the images have been lost for ever. It will take some time to go through the site and repair the damage.
I’ve completely revised my lesson on wind energy to take account of updates to Google Earth and Sketchup.
The UK government department of the DTI has disappeared, so the web links have been re-pointed to new resources. The lesson is probably more suitable to KS4 students, and provides an ideal opportunity to use online GIS (the Magic GIS) and other data sources with Google Earth. Extension activities using Photoshop and/or Sketchup, designed to improve visual literacy, are suggested.
Go to the lesson (on Juicy Geography)
Finally - after months of work, I’m happy to share my latest Google Earth-based lesson:
“A New Management Plan for Stonehenge”
It is widely agreed that there is a need for a new management plan for the area. In 1993 the UK government described Stonehenge as a “national disgrace” Students use a multimedia Google Earth file to learn more about the UNESCO World Heritage site, and after reading a briefing paper, they set about using the free drawing tools in Google Earth, together with an Ordnance Survey map extract in the KMZ file to produce their own management plan.
The lesson home page
The lesson is designed to highlight the real-world decision-making capabilities of Google Earth when combined with websites like Flickr. I’m currently writing a book which is part tutorial, part manifesto to highlight the classroom possibilities of this kind of neogeographic approach to teaching. The project means that this blog and Digital Geography will be updated infrequently until the book is complete.
An exciting new look for Google Earth and I’m particularly delighted that the Mac version now supports Flash video in placemarks. Lots of tweaks, all well documented on the core blogs, and certainly worth the download.
To celebrate the new release I’m rushing ahead to publish my most ambitious Google Earth lesson to date. Two days to go…
A sight that will gladden the heart of UK geographers. Google have released an update to the imagery that finally brings Snowdonia and the rest of the land of my fathers into high resolution. The update was mentioned on Google Earth blog
Tryfan and the Glyders.
I predict a rash of virtual field trips and tours of glacial features.
John Harrison and I are at the New Horizons Centre in Old Street, London on the 13th March presenting a course entitled:
HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE GIS AND GOOGLE EARTH INTO TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE KEY STAGES
Programme
10.00 -11.00: A WORLD OF GIS
A review of freely available GIS products, including links to mapping software, research tools and census data analysis
An explanation of how each of these products (and more) can be used in a classroom based scenario to engage students and raise standards
1.00 -11.15: DISCUSSION: COFFEE BREAK
1.15 -13.00: GOOGLE EARTH
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) and how Google sees the world
Identifying the core skills for navigating and interacting with Google Earth
Creating KML content with Google Maps and Google Earth
Exemplar lessons using Google Earth
13.00 -14.00: LUNCH AND INFORMAL DISCUSSION
14.00 -15.00: GOOGLE EARTH EXTRA
Google Earth and fieldwork – linking to GPS and displaying data
Immersive Google Earth and a glimpse of the future
15.00 -15.10: DISCUSSION: AFTERNOON TEA
15.10 -16.00: USING GIS TO DEVELOP COURSEWORK
A plug for a course that Dave Holmes and I are running in London on the 28th Feb. I believe that there are still a couple of places left. The venue is New Horizons in Old Street, and the day is entirely hands on.
There’s also the opportunity to try the Space Navigator
The course outline consists of:
Google Earth basics
Creating placemarks, overlays and GE tours
More advanced options including multimedia placemarks, custom and image icons, and tips for Google Maps
Using the Space Navigator
Sample Lessons Part 1
General advice on integrating GE into lessons and what to watch out for.
San Francisco decision-making exercise using GE.
Tasty lunch
Sample Lessons Part 2
Montserrat eruption role-play.
Other lesson ideas that can be adapted for the new National Curriculum Schemes of work
Book by calling Philip Allan Updates: 01706 831002
Google Lat Long Blog has announced some updates, including a new historical earthquake layer. It looks like this:
I completely failed to track it down in the Layers panel and was about to give up, before I found that Google Earth Blog had (somewhat inevitably) been there earlier and described the secretive location. Open the Places of Interest folder and then Geographic Features. Thanks Frank!
This is a great new feature, especially when combined with the real-time earthquakes network link that is accessible by clicking the link in the placemark bubbles. The network link also displays the location of plate boundaries. It’s all great - is anyone using paper maps of earthquake locations in the classroom anymore?
