e-help Seminar 26 Google Earth:
History
possibilities
Toulouse 8-10 June
2006
Three
things that Google
Earth can do to
enhance history Obtaining
existing resources -
weblinks
Creating your own
resources - weblinks
A Classroom Case
Study:
Circumnavigation of
Francis Drake
1. Three things that Google Earth can do
to enhance history:
All of the following, along with dozens of other examples, can be
downloaded directly from http://www.activehistory.co.uk/google-earth
(currently containing 124 resources, many more to follow this week!)
Terrain / Overlays
"Overlays" are maps which are scanned from a computer (or
taken direct from the web) and then dropped over a historical site to
give a much better sense of "place"; in addition, they can
appear to physically "lie" over the landscape they describe,
which is fantastic for sites where terrain made a difference (e.g. Vimy
Ridge).
▪ London after the Great Fire
▪ Auschwitz
▪ Vimy Ridge
3d Models
A number of users have designed their own 3D models which you can "whizz"
around from various angles. So far they are quite gimmicky, but they
show what the software is capable of.
▪ Taj Mahal
▪ Leaning Tower of Pisa
▪ Great Pyramid of Giza
Tours
Flyovers are fantastic - a series of placemarks which can be arranged
chronologically or thematically and then Google Earth "flies"
from one spot to another. The first two examples here are good
illustrations of the chronological approach; the third is a
thematically-based one which could easily be adapted to other subjects.
▪ Assassination of JFK
▪ 1066: Year of 3 Kings
▪ Six Wives of Henry VIII
3. Creating your own resources - weblinks
▪
Sketchup: 3D Model Creator
This freeware application allows you to create 3D models for Google
Earth. http://sketchup.google.com/
▪
Tagzania: Networked placemarks
Sign up to this website to create collaborative tours with your
students. http://www.tagzania.com/
▪
FlickrMap: Geotagged photographs
GeoTag your photos so that they appear as placemarks in Google Earth. http://www.flickrmap.com/
4. A Classroom Case Study: Circumnavigation of Francis Drake
▪ Available
from ActiveHistory here.
This is my first attempt at a Google Earth "Flyover". It comes
complete with 6 differentiated worksheets and 32 locations to visit, and
gives some idea of how the application can be used in the classroom.
If you have any comments or questions, please let me know!
