Google Maps

Google Maps is fantastic and something I have used a lot to get directions and estimate travel times.  I'm already pretty familiar with using the tool, but I'd love to find practical applications for the technology in the classroom.  Below is a screenprint of the program, showing the route from my suburb to the school where I'm completing stage 1 of my embedded professional learning. 

 

As part of my EPL I have prepared a learning experience plan for a Year 7 maths class that incorporates the use of Google Maps. The focus of the lesson is on calculating the area of compound shapes made up of rectangles and squares.Google Maps is used to demonstrate compound shapes in a real world context, fostering a more meaningful understanding of the topic.Students are asked to locate their own home using Google Maps, measure the dimensions of the house using the ruler tool, and determine the roof area of their home. Fingers crossed they love it!

 

Other ways to use this technology in maths/physics include:

• The tool would be a great way to introduce distance units and scale to a junior high school maths class. Students could use the zoom function to understand the concept of scale.
• Students could measure their travel distance from home to school, and create a profile of the class’ travel distances. This could be applied to calculate fuel consumption or the carbon footprint of the class in travelling to school daily.

 Pluses:

• Freely available to everyone, also works well on phones, tablets etc.
• Incorporates imagery which is engaging to students
• Functions include ruler tool, latitude and longitude markers, travel time calculations
   

Minuses

• Some images are outdated
• The website can go pretty slow if you don't have a great internet connection

Interesting

• Google Maps cover most of the world and some interesting images have been captured online.  I like this one in particular:
  https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=-23.527516%2C24.722529&spn=7.108058%2C9.063721&t=m&layer=c&cbll=-23.527516%2C24.722529&panoid=6LSqEIMxwYSzdqLWcpoaOg&cbp=12%2C163.35%2C%2C0%2C3.72&z=7
  Click the link, drive past the donkey, then once past donkey look back

  

Image source: Google Maps (2013)