I spent a day with Google in London yesterday. Ollie Bray has already blogged the meeting which saves me the effort, as the sun is out and I’m off to the beach.
The Google education team are committed to supporting and encouraging teachers to make better use of their software. One of the the most exciting proposals was to extend the Google Teacher Academy to the UK. The Geo Education site will also grow in the future, possibly emulating the Earth Gallery? Jamie Buchan Dunlop of Digital Explorer described his brilliant efforts to train UK teachers in practical applications of Google Earth to fieldwork, and imagined some exiting futures for the software. Richard Treves from Southampton University contributed a really thought-provoking presentation that reinforced the need for a basic set of teaching principles and finished with his manifesto for a New Cartography, quoting Ed Parsons who was present. Unfortunately my Mac refused to connect to the projector, somewhat reducing the impact of my presentation, which basically covered the Juicy Geography agenda.
Some exciting times ahead as Google explore how best to support teachers. The new API for Google Earth that Frank Taylor mentions here, extends the possibility of a range of educational web-based Google Earth applications.
I can’t imagine the geography classroom without the Milk Truck!
I’ve extensively revised and updated my Google Earth based lesson on wind energy:
I’ve written a new Google Earth based lesson…
The lesson home page is here (or click the picture)
The relative quietness on Digital Geography is part of a planned temporary break from blogging and Juicy Geography, in order to focus on a variety of new projects, and to reflect on the last few months. I’d like to concentrate on producing some new teaching materials and add to the podmovie series. I also want to spend some time researching for the long-planned Juicy Geography book. Since switching to a Mac, I’ve become far more interested in exploring video and digital photography. I’ve been going for One to One sessions at my local Apple Store (which I hugely recommend) to learn Final Cut Express It’s also time to start going to the climbing wall to get strong for the summer. So I’m slimming down my RSS reading, unfolding my Thinking Space and will just be posting news of my projects as they are completed.
I have been doing a few INSET courses recently. Geography teachers can usually see the benefit in learning the basics of KML, however there’s never enough time during a course to ensure everyone leaves as a fully proficient Neogeographer. The tutorials on the Google Earth outreach site are superb. Videos and clear instructions, together with the Google Spreadsheet Mapping Tool, (you need a Google account) mean that anyone can create attractive content for Google Maps/Earth.
Finally, should the BBC sort out the voting, please support the team “We’re Going To Change Britain” on BBC Upstaged. We’re the wildcard slot, hoping to use geography to make Britain happier in a 6 hour broadcast from Bristol.
John Harrison and I are running a course in London on the 13th March.
HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE GIS AND GOOGLE EARTH INTO TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE KEY STAGES
More info and booking here
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
At long last some sign that Teacher Tube has improved their server speed!
I found that a recent Google Earth geotagged video file suddenly worked properly, with no buffering problems at all. Previously I’d been disappointed so it’s good to report on this development.
Download Exeter CBD
Excellent news, since Teacher Tube is pretty much the only option for online video viewing in my digital prison (sorry, school)
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