Google Earth in Schools - Inspiring Creativity & Innovation

[Sheebaajmal03]

Hi All,

Sharing some insight into how to use Google Earth in Schools. Was skimming through the SNC approved textbook for History Grade 6 for schools in Punjab, Pakistan and I came across a chapter 1 on Egyptian Civilisation, Chinese Civilisation and Indus Civilisation. There were pictures of the pyramids, river nile, pharaohs, social structure etc. There were activities listed asking learners to compare these different civilisations, explore the structure of pyramids etc Some tasks included learners being asked to search the internet about the concept of life and death in Egypt, talk about difference between the burial procedures of pharaoh and common people. There are traditional questions in exercises that require the learners to compare different civilisations, multiple choice questions, and fact checking questions that learners can easily answer by reading the text. The instructions for internet search are vague and not very helpful for grade 6 learners. The traditional method of teaching requires learners to read the text , followed by some explanation by teacher on the white board, with some discussion and learners being asked to copy and complete the question answers in their copies. All learners learn the same content in the same traditional way. Feeling bored and dull.

Now lets try teaching the same lesson on various civilisations using the Google for Education resources like Google Earth and Google Maps. What if the teacher took the learners to the computer lab or provided learners with digital devices with internet enabled in their classrooms like a laptop, tablet or a desktop computer. The learners have explored Google Earth in their ICT class and are well aware of creating projects in Google Earth and Google Maps. Then the teacher asked them to sit in groups and assigned each group a civilisation with a set of questions about the civilisation. The questions were about each of the civilisation - the history, culture, infrastructure, governments, important buildings including schools, hospitals, buildings, religion, important rivers, every day life etc The learners had instructions to use Google Earth or Google Maps to find information about the Egyptian Civilisation, Indus Civilisation and the Chinese Civilisation. They were suppose to present their projects to the whole class using Google Earth or Google Maps. They could use help of the textbook if needed. They have rubrics to stay focused on their projects. I am sure all groups would come up with these wonderful presentations on all these civilisations feeling empowered like never before. Imagine the excitement of your learners moving in and out of the city of Kings and Queens Cairo just like that! sitting in their classrooms with a laptop with internet in a city like Lahore in Pakistan.

Imagine them exploring the Egyptian museums, looking at the Egyptian heritage, culture from up close. Imagine them walking around the pyramids, observing the heavy rock structure, moving in the pyramids, in the temples. Imagine your learners exploring the river nile and its surroundings. Imagine your learners roaming and exploring in Cairo, Egypt observing the mosques, hospital, roads, schools etc. Then after the presentations ask your learners to compare the previous and this way of learning about each of the three civilisations and how did they feel flying virtually to a country thousands of miles away from Pakistan. Ask them to calculate distances between Pakistan and Cairo, mark key areas they would like to visit and calculate the distance of all places. This is a whole new way of teaching and learning where the teacher is a facilitator and mentor, not a lecturer. The teacher trusts the learners work. This way all learners come up with different presentations of their work demonstrating their learning which is not possible in a traditional classroom of 30 plus learners. But Google makes it possible.

I wish we had access to such wonderful resources like Google Earth when we were studying in schools. Our learners are digital natives and blessed with tons of educational resources online which they can easily access free or paid. It is a challenge for us as teachers, educators and trainers to ensure we provide them quality education experiences that they would value and always remember.

Happy reading till my next post soon.

Regards and prayers