Submitted by: Andrew Givens
Collaborators: Doug Saunders
School: L. Douglas Wilder Middle School
Summary
Students will select a country that they would like to learn more about. The culminating project will have them choosing from a variety of software in order to create their countries flag. The students will also create a virtual field trip using the Google Earth software. The Google Earth tour will take full advantage of the programs versatile tools; such as image overlays, place marks, descriptions, inserting graphics, and voice. The overarching goal is to create an awareness of what life is like outside of a student’s home and to familiarize the class with the concept of globalization. The students will share out their finalized product by uploading the .kmz files to a central repository.
TIPC Ratings
Approaching: Students were encouraged to use a wide variety of internet and library print resources in order to research their chosen country. The use of Wikipedia was encouraged as long as the students double checked the validity of the information. Students were instructed to utilize meta-search engines in order to discover a wider range of resources.
Developing: An introduction to Google Earth as well as a teacher modeled sample was used to introduce this project. However, much of this project entailed self-discovery and involved students teaching students how to effectively create virtual field trips using Google Earth. Those students who chose to work in groups had varying roles in determining the outcome of the project. Once all student artifacts are collected, they are going to be shared globally via wikispaces where the .kmz files can be downloaded and viewed by all students in the class as well as other students, and faculty in the county, state, or country.
ApproachingStudents had specific objectives that they were required to include in their final artifact. However, since students were not specifically told which tools to use each had to determine and continually assess what technology resources would serve them best. Creating a tour in Google Earth required numerous mulit-step procedures and higher order thinking skills i.e- finding relevant information and images, discovering locations, adding placemarks, polygons, overlays, voice, and an understanding of html and embed codes.
ApproachingThis can be witnessed in the student artifacts that were submitted. Students were extremely creative in their selection of media tools. Students had to learn how to use a program that many were unfamiliar with prior to the introduction of this lesson. Students had to not only make these projects factual, but also aesthetically pleasing for the viewer.
