Presentation at WestCAST 2011 by Kyle Webb, Cassie Eskra, and Nicole VanCaeseele. In education, Google has traditionally been seen as simply a search engine. However, in recent years, Google has been developing their own resources that present many new learning opportunities in the classroom. Google Earth, Google SketchUp, and WolframAlpha will be presented as well as examples of how they can be used. We will focus primarily on their applications to math education, but also explore their potential for cross-curricular use.

1. GOOGLE 2.0
PROJECT
MORE THAN JUST A SEARCH ENGINE.
DATE WHERE
FEB. 24TH, 2011 WESTCAST 2011

2. Who are we?

3. Who are we?
Cassie Eskra
creskra@hotmail.com
@casseskra
Nicole VanCaeseele Kyle Webb
vancaesn@uregina.ca webbly@gmail.com
@vancaesn @webbkyle

4. Warm Up!
Eyes!
Ears!
Calves!
http://flic.kr/p/3EPVar

5. HTTP://FLIC.KR/P/6AWUTW

6. Today

7. Google Earth
What is it?

8. What is it?
A 3D version of Google Maps
A virtual globe, map and geographical
information program.

9. Buildings Tour!
Adapted from realworldmath.org

10. Adapted from googlelittrips.com

11. 5 Reasons
To Use Google Earth
5. Cross Curricular
4. Digital Story Telling
3. Inquiry Based Learning
2. Fun and Engaging
1. Free!
http://www.gearthblog.com/images/images1206/satellites.jpg

12. The Bad & Ugly
Things about Google Earth
http://www.gearthblog.com/images/images407/aimusers.jpg
1. Needs a powerful computer to use.
2. Requires strong internet
connection, consumes bandwidth.
3. Can take a long time to load.
4. Easy to get off task, distracted.

13. earth.google.com

15. Google SketchUp
What is it?

16. What is it?
A 3D modeling program.
Designed for engineers, filmmakers
and game developers.
Designed to be easier to use than
other 3D CAD programs.

17. Build a Chair!
SketchUp in action.

18. Build a House!
Student builds a house.

19. Build a House!
Student builds a house.

20. 5 Reasons
To Use Google SketchUp
5. Cross Curricular
4. Inquiry/Project Based
Learning
3. Intuitive and Easy to
Learn
2. Develops Math
Processes
1. Free! http://webin8r.com/wp-content/uploads/barn_large.jpg

21. The Bad & Ugly
Things about SketchUp
1. Takes some time to learn
how to use.
2. Requires a powerful computer.
3. Gets glitchy.
http://download.chip.eu/ii/192689189_6a38e790a8.jpg

22. sketchup.google.com

23. Today

24. Wolfram|Alpha
What is it?

25. What is it?
Computational knowledge engine.

26. What is it?
Computational knowledge engine.

27. IBM WATSON
JEOPARDY 2011 (IMAGE FROM HTTP://HOTHARDWARE.COM/NEWSIMAGES/

28. 5 Reasons
To Use Wolfram|Alpha
5. Cross Curricular.
4. Not a search engine.
3. Easily accessible.
2. Mobile.
1. Cites sources. http://flic.kr/p/86SV2f

29. The Bad & Ugly
Things about Wolfram|Alpha
1. Requires internet.
2. Not a search engine.
3. Cheating.
http://flic.kr/p/8PuJUU

30. wolframalpha.com

31. Discuss

32. Technology
Good or Evil?
“Technology is a tool. Is a hammer
good? It’s good if you build a
house with it, it’s bad if you hit
somebody over the head with it.
It’s a copout to call it good or evil.
It’s each individual making a
decision for themselves. Our
choice is to use them wisely or to
http://flic.kr/p/4p8ptP use them poorly.”
- Jack Grushcow

33. !
!

34. Thank you!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crystaljingsr/3915513752/in/set-72157622354789320/