Welcome Back!  This week I was able to explore Google Earth and use Tour Builder.  I never cease to be amazed by Google.  These two tools can do many amazing things and their applications in the classroom are limitless.  I hope everyone who reads this post will find a new idea or two for their classroom.

Google Earth allows anyone with a Google account to "fly" anywhere throughout the world.  Using satellite imagery, Google allows users to explore and interact with maps, and 3-D buildings.  The local terrain of an area can also be experienced.  Most areas on the planet even the ocean, and outer space can be explored.  Starting a Google Earth journey can be started by following this link to download this tool.  One of the best features is that this tool is free!  After downloading Google Earth play around and have fun exploring.  Here is a link to many helpful tutorials for those that are beginners on up to advanced users.

Using Google earth in the classroom allows teachers to take their students on field trips around the world.  The classroom can fly anywhere and learn anywhere.  Here is a PDF that lists 26 tips and tricks for using Google Earth in the classroom.  Here is a great video on using Google Earth in the classroom.

Interested in learning more classroom uses?  Then check out these great resources.

http://thenextweb.com/google/2011/01/20/how-teachers-are-using-google-earth-in-the-classroom/

http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/classroom-resources/lesson-plan-library

http://askatechteacher.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/how-to-teach-geography-with-google-earth-part-i/

http://cnx.org/contents/d2068131-1f19-40aa-8867-0d05b0101a0d@2

http://nerdyteacherconfessions.edublogs.org/2011/03/08/measurement-6-perimeter-and-area/

Another great tool to use with Google Earth is Tour Builder.  This feature allows a teacher or even a student to create a tour that gives information about a related event or concept.  For example, I created a tour that showcases the Oregon Trail.   I plan on adding to this tour as I have time and then it will gives students a hands-on interactive learning experience.  Check out the Oregon Trail tour that is a work in progress.  Tour builder is a virtual field trip and allows the user to show places on a map.  These places can be shown as a satellite image from space or can be seen at street view.  These tours show the relationships of multiple locations to each other.  This is great for visual learners!  Images, and videos can be included to make tours more interactive.  The user can also include descriptive information to describe what is being shown.  This is great for research projects.  Here is a great tutorial to help get started using Tour Builder.

As you can see, this week has truly been a worldly adventure!  These tools should be used in the classroom.  They will pay you back dividends ten-fold.  I hope you have learned some new great tools to utilize in the classroom.