Google Earth, One Powerful Mindtool Erik Anderson 27 January 2014 TLED 530 Old Dominion University

The use of Mindtools in education expand the abilities of learners by multiplying the processing power at hand, allowing for a deeper and more thorough understanding of the topic (Jonassen, 2000). Just as the abacas allowed for the growth of computation power several millennia ago furthering architectural ability, engineering feats, economic systems, and astrological knowledge, a plethora of modern tools allow people to analyze pre-existing data in new and unorthodox ways. Many such systems or application exist, but few have as fundamentally expanded access to a geographical understanding of the world than the release of Google Earth. The release of Google Earth to the public opened up a trove of high-quality government imagery in a system which patched them together in a simple and convenient manner. The product is available by free download at www.google.com/earth and allows user to zoom in and out seamlessly as they navigate around the globe and out to space. The tool can be downloaded to a wireless device and across a variety of platforms including Windows, Macintosh, and Linux (Google). There is a more powerful version available for commercial use at a price and still further powerful versions for government and military application. The highly professional tool allows for students in the most cash-strapped of school divisions to follow historical events using historical imagery and timelines, conduct geometric equations relating to elevation, distances and lines of sight, apply scientific principles of ecological land use, water depletion and apply geologic principles, and understand political strife and ethnic conflict around the world. This dynamic tool lends itself to multiple academic disciplines for little cost aside from computer access.

The program can be easily personalized with addition of layers to highlight key areas, create routes, and display historical events. Labels can be added to guide students through a lesson and both still images and videos can be captured and exported out of Google Earth to be used in presentations at a later time, while maintaining the professionalism of the tool itself. Data from imagery analysis programs can be merged with data from Google Earth in order to support other Geographic Information Systems. The ability to bring students to a street view on the other side of the planet allows information to be more relatable, urging them to think deeper and more critically of the information at hand. The information gleaned from using the tool can be used to facilitate the production of reports and presentations across multiple disciplines as a highly transferable skill which both simple applications (mapping an exercise route) to highly complex ones (revealing complex patterns of ethnic cleansing in current conflict areas using multiple databases). It is truly a tool that is extremely easy to use and become as complex as your imagination allows. Google has developed applications for Google Earth readily packaged for multiple teaching disciplines available from http://maps.google.com/help/maps/education/learn/index.html specifically designed to maximize student learning (Google). The company continues to develop more advanced uses for the application as well as add-ons for specific uses. Outside companies have developed programs derived from Google Earth readily available as well. Educators should embrace this product and allow their students to benefit from this powerful Mindtool.

References
Google. (n.d.). Explore. Retrieved from Google Earth: http://www.google.com/earth/explore/products/ Google. (n.d.). Learn. Retrieved from Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/help/maps/education/learn/index.html Jonassen, D. H. (2000). Computers as Mindtools for Schools. Ohio: Prentice Hall. Retrieved from https://www.blackboard.odu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-3914887-dt-content-rid3358913_2/courses/201320_SPRING_TLED530_24058/201220_SPRING_TLED530_27623_Impor tedContent_20130110105452/201210_FALL_TLED430_15593_ImportedContent_201208271104 07/mindtools.pdf