Unit 2 - Using Web 2.0 technologies

Using Web 2.0 technologies I spoke with a social studies teacher who is using discussion threads and also Google Earth. We focused on how Google Earth can be used for research projects about European countries in her class. I’ve used Google Earth for a research project where students create a virtual tour to colleges they are interested in attending and companies they may like to work for in the future. The Social Studies teacher said that she chose Google Earth because our district has the software downloaded for easy access for all students. She said that Google Earth allows students to zoom in and view the cities and towns that they are researching about. The Google Earth presentation is more interesting and engaging than a simple PowerPoint presentation. Google Earth also opens links to external sites that are related to the topic. We both spoke about the pro’s/con’s of using Google Earth for presentations. The students liked using it and thought it was fun. Several problems we both had were related to students saving the .kmz file and exporting the tour file for grading. We both worked out several kinks and thought it was a worthwhile Web 2.0 project.