Google Earth

I really enjoyed learning how to use Google Earth. This program is much more interactive than Google Maps and it allows students to get an actual image of what the place they are searching looks like. I like the fact that people have posted pictures taken at the different landmarks and you can actually see them on the page.
Once I got to look around the Google Earth for Educators site, I found that there were not that many options for high school history. The best I found was a lesson for 7th Grade Renaissance. Although I do teach this topic to my 9th graders, it would be nice to have something directed at the older students as well.
A KML file is a Keyhole Markup Language file. In order to import information from Google maps, I simply clicked on the KML link and then I was prompted for where to put the information. I clicked on Google Earth and it loaded quite easily. This was an easy way to go from one map to the other. Also, the Google Earth map was much nicer to look at. It was clearer and had more detail to view.
As an educator, this program covers the designing and developing digital age learning experiences and also modeling digital age work and learning. Students would be able to be hands on with their learning and visualize all these places we talk about. Also, they would get to see how others view them as well with their pictures they have posted.