Reference: Google Earth. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2008, from http://earth.google.com

Grade Level: 5

Subject: Social Studies

Brief Description of Activity: Students will use Google Earth to view the varieties of physical geography present throughout Canada. The students will access Google Earth, and will be given a worksheet with the following locations listed: “Lethbridge. AB”, “Drumheller, AB”, “Banff, AB”, “Whitehorse, YK”, “Elbow, SK”, “Grindrod, BC”, “Kenora, ON”, and “Wolfville, NS”. Students will be instructed to enter each of the locations into the “Fly to” box and write a brief description of what the landscape looks like. Next, students will be asked if any of the 8 locations share any similar characteristics, and, if so, to describe them. Third, students will be asked to choose one of the locations other than “Lethbridge, AB” and describe how it is different from the topography near Lethbridge.  

General Learner Outcome: Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how the         physical geography and natural resources of Canada affect the quality of life of all Canadians. (5.1)

Specific Learner Outcomes:  Students will:

 5.1.1 value Canada’s physical geography and natural environment:

• appreciate the diversity of geographic phenomena in Canada (LPP)

5.1.2 examine, critically, the physical geography of Canada by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:

• What are the differences and similarities among the geographical regions of Canada? (LPP)
• How is the geographical region they live in different from other regions of Canada? (LPP)

C.7.2.1 - Students will use a variety of technologies to organize and synthesize researched information and construct personal knowledge and meaning.

F.4.2.2 – Students will

The Cabot Trail, located on the east coast of Cape Breton

 describe how the use of graphics can alter perception.

Brief Rational for Computer Integration: This assignment allows an application like Google Earth to shine. A similar assignment could be performed using a traditional atlas, but it would not be nearly as engaging. This lesson will allow students to work at their own pace and also provides a wealth of sponge activities for when a student has completed their worksheet. Ultimately, it allows for a much more interactive geography lesson.

That first powerpoint was a doozy. It was a perfect example of why many people don’t like digital presentations. From a design standpoint, it was uncomfortably ugly. Font colours did not match background colours. The background colours were glaring and hurt your eyes. The entire thing was a mess. As for the content, well, it wasn’t any better than the design. The information was filled with errors, the text rambled on like a bad date, and all three slides were not cohesive, nor concise. 

So, I made a few changes using Keynote. As soon as I figure out how to upload the ‘old’ and ‘new’ versions, I will. Here are two lists of my changes: one list is based on visuals and design, and the other list is based on content.

DESIGN

• Used a unifying, eye-pleasing theme throughout the entire presentation.
• Increased the number of slides from 3 to 7.
• Decreased the amount of text on each slide.
• Added full colour photos to each slide.
• Used bullet points on each slide rather than a single paragraph.
• Eliminated all transitions. I think using transitions in a digital presentation is as bad as talking on a cellphone in a theatre.

When I think of blogging, I typically think of an online journal. And the idea of exposing your writing to basically anyone makes me uncomfortable. 

That level of earnestness makes me cringe.

However, blogging as a way to deliver highly specified information to a particular group? I can’t get enough of those blogs…especially with all the juicy American election coverage.

So. In the future, I’ll be providing responses related to my EDUC 3508 assignments and not talking about myself. Unless I am asked to.