google tools

Here are two Google tools that teachers can use in their classrooms:

1.  Google Talk- Video Chat

What is it? Google Talk is a chat application that you can message people from around the world in real-time text conversations.  The Video Chat option allows you to see and talk to the other person with the use of a webcam, speakers, and a microphone.

Affordances: The Video Chat tool allows you to actually see who you are talking to, see what they are doing while talking to you, and hear their actual voice.  It allows you to see other people without getting on an airplane or traveling. 

Constraints:  One of the constraints on Video Chat is you cannot actually touch the person you are talking to.  They might live far away, and Video Chat does not physically bring them closer to you.

Use in classrooms: 
This is an article about how Video Chat is used to teach about different cultures and languages in the classroom. 
This YouTube Video depicts a history class taking a tour of the Constitution Center via a Google Video Chat. 
This YouTube Video shows two classrooms having a (short) debate using Google Video Chat.


2.  Google Earth

What is it? Google Earth allows you to virtually explore and navigate the world.

Affordances:  Google Earth allows you to zoom into cities and terrain, "stand" on some streets, and also zoom out to see exactly where something is within a country or continent.

Constraints:  Google Earth does not allow you to see in real time.  You cannot zoom in and see what it looks like exactly at this moment.

Use in Classrooms:
This website was created by a teacher using Google Earth.  He created it so that you can compare two versions of Earth, which you can set back to 1990 and up to 2012. 
GoogleLitTrips is a website that allows you to use Google Earth to enhance a piece of literature.  You can take information from a book and relate it to where it happened or where something is from on Google Earth.  You can create your very own "map" about a book. 
This YouTube video shows a classroom using Google Earth as an interactive map to learn more about missions in California.