Google Maps and Google Earth...

I often use Google maps, mainly for getting directions from point A to point B.. I’ve never been good with reading maps. Google maps and Google earth are very different, yet effective. Google maps is simply a map showing roads, and landmarks etc. and Google earth shows you real life images of the location. It allows you to move your mouse as if you’re a person walking around in the location in different areas and see a 360 degrees view. These ICT tools can help develop students’ understanding of the world. For example if students are learning about an area of Australia the students can view the location of the area, using Google maps and perhaps explore the area using Google earth. This facilitates a more effective learning experience as students are not only learning about the area but they are also developing a better concept of where the places are, therefore gaining a deeper understanding of the world.

These two tools can be used in an early childhood context when learning about different places. For example, when I was attending one of my plac placements in a kindergarten setting the class was focusing on Japan. This involved the children creating pictures, cooking traditional food, looking at traditional items such as kimonos and reading about significant places. This could be a situation where Google maps and Google earth would be valuable. For example students could view the map of Japan on Google maps and then could zoom in onto Tokyo (image shown below from google maps) when discussing this area. Furthermore, when exploring a particular area of Japan such as Shinjuku Gyoen (one of Tokyo’s cherry blossoming garden) Google earth could be used to view the garden and give students a more in depth or real experience rather than simply viewing an image. This could further develop childrens’ understanding of place and space and perhaps provide a more significant learning experience, therefore enriching childrens’ learning.