Google Earth and Math

Google Earth is a really fun place to play and explore. I discovered some kmz files a while back that I thought might be useful to teach some math concepts. I had GE installed on all the laptops in my room and placed the kmz file on our school server(simplest way for me). The students just had to click on the file and it would open to the placemarks created in the file. I had them write the formula for the shape, the dimensions measured with metric units and their solution. There was some discussion about why the answers they were getting were not exactly the same. A screenshot video taken with Jing.
Here is the link to the Screenshot movie done in Jing. Cannot seem to make embed show properly. http://screencast.com/t/wesuCI5Jo





The kmz file can be downloaded here if you want to try it out. There are files here also. And here are my bookmarks relating to Google Earth .

It seems to be a reoccurring theme here on my blog, but the students were very engaged during the activity. Once they got the hang of navigating through the bookmarks (they were quicker than me!)they worked diligently on their assignment. The results of the unit test on perimeter and area weren't as good as I had expected. The retention of formulas, even after deriving them using cut up pieces of bristol board, the GE activities, and textbook assignments. I'll have to add something else into the mix next year, any suggestions?

Blogging, Videos and a Digital Voice

I've tried to have discussions with my Grade8 Science classes this year and always felt that it was me who did all the talking, which is not a discussion. I'm not sure if if they are afraid to put themselves out there in front of their peers or if they have just been trained to be quiet and listen, or at least pretend to listen. Usually my questions elicit blank stares, but it turns out these students do have something to say but just not in front of their classmates.

Since Earth Day was last week, I took a break from our diffusion and osmosis lesson and had the students view a couple of videos that I had thought would enlighten, anger and possibly inspire. I put the links up on their blog, which I just started using again (next year it will be introduced in the first class). Class Blog I am quite pleased with the reactions they have submitted so far. I was actually shocked by some. It's amazing that these students feel more comfortable publishing to a global audience than to speaking pubicly in class. Another teacher at the school said they were used to using MSN to communicate now rather than picking up the phone and talking to a friend. Maybe it's just more natural for them.

I sent a tweet on twitter asking for some comments if anyone had time and some educators also responded with thoughtful questions. Their willingness to join their discussion will make it richer for my students. It would great to find another class who were willing to share and discuss.

It's great to see they have a digital voice and I hope their thinking and writing on environmental issues will continue.

Here's one video that they viewed on the Smartboard with audio sytem near full blast. It really caught their attention.

Fletchblog

Turn your notes into podcasts

Well not really a podcast with all the bells and whistles, but you can turn text into voice and embed it on a blog or wiki. Great application for 1:1 laptop schools with students that are non-readers. Here is my test with some osmosis notes I use for Grade 8 science.


This site was shared on the chat forum last night from a live weekly edtech show : Women of The Web.