GOOGLE EARTH BASICS

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Google Earth is a free, revolutionary computer application with tremendous potential in K-12 education. It features satellite imagery of the entire Earth, and has great potential to expand our students' global awareness. Google Earth can readily be used to enhance the curriculum at all grade levels, and in all subjects, including math, science, social studies, and language arts. Examples of activities that can be pursued with Google Earth include: identify and explore major river deltas, research the effects of planetary overpopulation, study Greek and Roman history, explore Earth's weather, earthquake activity, and volcanoes. In this introductory course you will learn navigational basics and how to customize Google Earth for use in your classroom.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, participants will have:

• Learned how to download Google Earth onto a PC.
• Learned and applied the basic components of the Google Earth program, such as searching, navigation, and place-marking, and how to utilize the functions of these components.
• Explored numerous Google Earth “Layers” - overlays that can display add-on features ranging from political boundaries and roads, to thematic overlays of earth’s endangered species.
• Create a classroom teaching unit using Google Earth.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Completion of all specified assignments is required for issuance of hours or credit. The Heritage Institute does not award partial credit.

HOURS EARNED:
Completing the basic assignments (Section A. Information Acquisition) for this course automatically earns participants their choice of CEUs (Continuing Education Units), Washington State Clock Hours, Oregon PDUs, or Pennsylvania ACT 48 Hours. The Heritage Institute offers CEUs and is an approved provider of Washington State Clock Hours, Oregon PDUs, and Pennsylvania ACT 48 Hours.

UNIVERSITY QUARTER CREDIT INFORMATION

REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIVERSITY QUARTER CREDIT
Continuing Education Quarter credits are awarded by Antioch University Seattle (AUS). AUS requires 75% or better for credit at the 400 level and 85% or better to issue credit at the 500 level. These criteria refer both to the amount and quality of work submitted.

1. Completion of Information Acquisition assignments 30%
2. Completion of Learning Application assignments 40%
3. Completion of Integration Paper assignment 30%

CREDIT/NO CREDIT (No Letter Grades or Numeric Equivalents on Transcripts)
Antioch University Seattle (AUS) Continuing Education Quarter credit is offered on a Credit/No Credit basis; neither letter grades nor numeric equivalents are on a transcript. 400 level credit is equal to a "C" or better, 500 level credit is equal to a "B" or better. This information is on the back of the transcript.

AUS Continuing Education quarter credits may or may not be accepted into degree programs. Prior to registering, determine with your district personnel, department head, or state education office the acceptability of these credits for your purpose.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

REQUIRED TEXT

There are no required texts. Google Earth contains an accompanying User Guide that will provide participants with a thorough reference document that will allow you to learn the program's basic and intermediate features.

Supplementary information regarding Google Earth is available both on the internet, and in printed format. These resources can easily be found using a search engine, or by searching book vendors such as Amazon.com.

None. All reading is online.

MATERIALS FEE

Free resources online

QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEACHING THIS COURSE:

Glenn Monahan, B.S.: BS. in Geology from Montana State University ; junior high earth science teacher for 15 years; park ranger in Yellowstone for 5 years; member Geological Society of America. Glenn's interests include outdoor activities, natural and human history, mapping and remote sensing, and advocating for wild places and wildlife.

Nancy Schultz, M.Ed.: Elementary teacher and reading specialist for 30 years; park ranger in Mt. Rainier N.P. Nancy is an outdoor enthusiast. She has interests in sustainability; she is involved as an advocate for native wildlife in the Northern Rocky Mountain bioregion.

Both instructors have been teaching for The Heritage Institute since 1992. They live in Bozeman, Montana in a home with a 2400 watt photovoltaic solar system, and a 1600 square foot solar hot water system.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GOOGLE EARTH BASICS

Creative Commons 26 Interesting Ways to Use Google Earth in the Classroom http://googleearthgoods.pbworks.com/w/page/15008577/FrontPage This is a good website to quickly learn some of the ways that Google Earth can be used in the classroom, and can get you thinking about ways that the program can be applied to your curriculum.

Carelton College, Teaching With Google Earth http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/google_earth/index.html A website from Carleton College Department of Education, with emphasis on using Google Earth to teach Geosciences.

Science Education ResourceCenter at Carelton College, Pedagogy in Action: How to Teach with Google Earth http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/google_earth/how.html Carelton College has made a robust committment to promote the use of Google Earth as a K-12 teaching/learning tool. This website, which focuses on science education, is an excellent resource, with abundant links to a wealth of ideas for educators who wish to utilize Google Earth in their classrooms.

National Social Science Association, Taking Student Learning Out of This World: Integrating Google Earth in the Elementary Classroom, http://www.nssa.us/tech_journal/volume_1-2/vol1-2_article5.htm, The purpose of this article is to discuss the usefulness of Google Earth as an educational tool in the elementary classroom curriculum.