A new functionality to Google Maps adds more utility and, at the same time, opens some possibilities in the classroom. Until recently, you had access to Google Maps or Google Earth, but now with some development, you have both.
Head over to Google Maps and you’ll see a new splash announcing an Earth feature. This is very interesting when you dig in and take a look around. Some world landmarks are shown up front and are worthy of a tour to see what’s up. Check out the Petronas Towers or Niagara Falls or any of the featured landmarks.
Very cool.
But, how about a little closer to home. Can we benefit from this locally? How about the Ambassador Bridge?
Or, how about the Ford logo just off Seminole Street?
Looking north across the Detroit River, the Renaissance Centre and General Motors World Headquarters.
And so much more. The Art Gallery, the University of Windsor, St. Clair College, and so many of the local landmarks.
What struck me in terms of functionality for navigation was how quickly you could move through the maps to locate landmarks. While Google Earth has many of these features, it takes a higher powered machine to do the zooming in and out. It also requires the separate Google Earth application.
Here, right within Google Maps, you have some great functionality. In some of the older computers where installing Google Earth is not an option or in a lesser powered Netbook, you’ve got some pretty responsive action.
This is an absolute keeper.
Hey Doug,
I think I’m doing more traveling through reading your posts these days than in real life! Thanks for sharing!
I’m looking forward to school visits quieting down (maybe!) in June so that I can play around with Google Earth some more and create some projects for kids for next year.
I really like how Jen http://jenuinetech.com/blog/ created projects and opened them up on the web to have students participating. This would be neat to do with students in my board (and beyond) using Google Earth I think…what do you think?
Share your favourite place on earth….
Where would you go if you could go anywhere…and why?
Just some initial tinkering with the idea…
Hey Doug,
I’m glad to see this development too! Sometimes Google Earth is just too resource heavy!
The kids and I are having a great time these days using Google SketchUp to create their own ‘buildings’ which they are then placing into Google Earth and turning into Augmented Reality (AR) models. That rocks!
As you know, we have had a lot of fun with Google Earth in the past. http://theconstructionzone.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/hidden-a-project-that-worked/
And now the AR possibilities have augmented that – pun intended!
I’ll be posting about that SOON!
I have to tell you that a great deal of that enthusiasm and learning on my part has come from one student – a 15 year old guy in my classes. He has struggled a great deal with lots of stuff in school – but is finding himself – is realizing his genius. It is beautiful to watch.
In fact, I have invited this young man to facilitate a centre at Minds On Media this year at http://www.ecoo.org . So, there he will be. A learner. A teacher. He will be an equal with the rest of the facilitators – learners and teachers – and will educate us on Google SketchUp, Augmented Reality, and Google Earth and – as you have pointed out, Google Maps.
Loving learning,
peter