Online GeoTools to Enhance Science & Math Education

Timothy S. Hare & Christine E. McMichaelKentucky Center for Geospatial Education, Research, & Outreach

Institute for Regional Analysis & Public PolicyMorehead State University

t.hare@morehead-st.edu c.mcmichael@moreheadstate.edu

Activity Outline (~120 minutes)

What tools are available?GeoTool Demonstrations

Google Earth & Commonwealth Map

Hands-on ActivitiesScience Data DemonstrationsHands-on ActivitiesOnline Support for GeoTools

Free Multimedia Ways to Explore…KentuckyCommonwealth Map

Static Web SitesWhere Storms Are WorseningGlobal Warming ArtWorld Atlas of Flooded LandsInteractive Climate Map

WorldGoogle EarthVirtual EarthNational Geographic Map MachineUN Environmental Knowledge for Change

USWetlands MapperHistorical Hurricane Tracks

The Commonwealth Map

Google Earth

FreeMust be installed on computerCompatibility

WindowsMac

DetailsInteractive web mapping of the Earth & skyVery popular with kidsNumerous educational materials available

Google Earth Demonstration

Main InterfaceAddress locationsBuilt-in modulesAdd-in modules

GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH GOOGLE EARTH

Activity

Activity Tasks - Open Google Earth

Locate your study area (home & school)Measure length of your route between home & school(Ruler icon/path)Create a path between home & school (Path icon) & customize color & widthAdd Placemarks for key locations (Placemark icon)Draw outlines of some buildings (Polygon icon)Save Path, Placemarks, & buildings to kml

More advanced tasks

Create a web site and embed your maps Geotag photosShow pictures & graphs in GE & GMCreate 3D buildings

Google Earth (GE) Resources

Downloading Google EarthGoogle Earth User GuideGoogle Earth OutreachGoogle for Educators

Google Earth Galleries

Main GalleryOutreach Gallery

Additional Resources

User ForumsGoogle Earth BlogGoogle Maps Mania

How to integrate these tools into your classroom…

As classroom demonstrationsAs supplemental/supporting material for prepared subjectsBuilding hands-on student activitiesTo support individual student projectsClass projects

E.g., collecting community data & creating web maps

As classroom demonstrationsWhere are the wetlands in your community?Have hurricanes ever affected Kentucky?What is the effect of global warming?What areas are affected most by flooding?What areas are running out of clean water?

As stand-alone activities

Targeting content standardsEnvironment & wetlandsSocial StudiesMathGeographyEconomicsHistory

Benefits

FreeEasy to useHands-on activitiesDepth of knowledge & understandingGee-Whiz affect for students

Supplementary Data for GE

WetlandsSatellite ImagesGeologyOther Green InitiativesEnergyCoal

DESIGNING A CLASS ACTIVITY USING GOOGLE EARTH

Activity

Activity – Design Classroom activities

Choose a class topic Locate a related GE resourceOutline a student activity that uses the selected GE resource to help students understand the topic

Prepare a short explanation of your activity to the class

Online Materials

All associated resource can be downloaded from the Internet at: http://www.kcgero.org/ksta08

Thank You

Timothy S. Hare & Christine McMichaelKentucky Center for Geospatial Education, Research, &

OutreachIRAPP, Morehead State University

100D Lloyd Cassity Buildingt.hare@morehead-st.edu 606-783-9436

Institute for Regional Analysis and Public

Policy

(IRAPP)

Center of Excellence, MSUA Kentucky Program of

Distinctionhttp://irapp.morehead-st.edu