The subject “Teaching Geography using Google Earth” is a learning thing in itself and in this era of rapid technological advancements, this could be advantageous for both in teaching and in learning Geography. Let’s start understanding the subject by dividing it into three different parts as Teaching- meaning and objectives, Geography- a discipline, and Google Earth- introduction, use, and benefits.

We have always been taught and might have had a chance to taught others at some moment in time but have we ever thought about What is teaching? What are the objectives of teaching? Who can teach and how? What should be the ideal method of teaching?

Beginning with the first part let’s discuss some questions given hereunder:

Teaching is a process in which one individual teaches or instructs another individual. Teaching is considered as an act of imparting instructions to the learners in a classroom situation. In a simple sense, it would be correct to say that teaching is nothing but a conversation of telling something new, letting someone know about something that he is unknown to, and clarifying the doubts and questions of others.

The major objectives of teaching cover the following: 

• Acquisition of knowledge
• Development of understanding
• Development of conceptual, intellectual, and subject-specific skills
• Development of values

if someone has the knowledge of a particulars subject and if he/she is able to convey his/her resourceful knowledge to others in different possible ways as suitable to the recipient, then he/she can be a teacher. There are different methods of teaching originating from ancient schools of Gurukuls to the modern days smart class techniques. A teacher must know about the different teaching methods 

• Teacher-centered method
• Learner-centered method
• The content-focused method, and
• Interactive/participative method

So here the first part- ‘Teaching- meaning and objectives’ of the subject- “Teaching Geography using Google Earth” ends and we begin with the second part- ‘Geography- as a discipline’. We have to find answers to certain questions in order to understand ‘Geography- as a discipline’ which we are going to discuss hereunder-

In very simple words, it can be said that geography is the description of the earth. The term geography was first coined by Eratosthenes, a Greek scholar (276-194 BC.). The word has been derived from two roots from the Greek language geo (earth) and graphos (description). Scholars defined geography as, “the description of the earth as the abode of human beings”.

Geography, thus, is concerned with the study of Nature and Human interactions as an integrated whole. ‘Human’ is an integral part of ‘nature’ and ‘nature’ has the imprints of ‘human’. ‘Nature’ has influenced different aspects of human life. Its imprints can be noticed on food, clothing, shelter, and occupation.

Geography as a discipline is concerned with three sets of questions:

• Some questions are related to the identification of the patterns of natural and cultural features as found over the surface of the earth. These are the questions about what?
• Some questions are related to the distribution of the natural and human/ cultural features over the surface of the earth. These are the questions about where?
• The third question is related to the explanation or the causal relationships between features and the processes and phenomena. This aspect of geography is related to the question, why?

As we already know that there exist variations over the surface of the earth in its physical as well as cultural environment. A number of phenomena are similar and many are dissimilar. It was, therefore, logical to perceive geography as the study of areal differentiation. Thus, geography was perceived to study all those phenomena which vary over space. Geographers do not study only the variations in the phenomena over the earth’s surface (space) but also study the associations with the other factors which cause these variations. For example, cropping patterns differ from region to region but this variation in cropping pattern, as a phenomenon, is related to variations in soils, climates, demands in the market, the capacity of the farmer to invest, and technological inputs available to her/him. Thus, the concern of geography is to find out the causal relationship between any two phenomena or between more than one phenomenon.

 

Now, here we have the third part- ‘Google Earth- introduction, use and benefits’ of the subject- “Teaching Geography using Google Earth” to discuss and understand.

 

Google Earth is a computer program, formerly known as Keyhole EarthViewer, that renders a 3D representation of Earth-based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and GIS data onto a 3D globe, allowing users to see cities and landscapes from various angles. Users can explore the globe by entering addresses and coordinates, or by using a keyboard or mouse. The program can also be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet, using a touch screen or stylus to navigate. Recently Google has revealed that Google Earth now covers more than 98 percent of the world, and has captured 10 million miles of Street View imagery, a distance that could circle the globe more than 400 times.

 

In addition to Earth navigation, Google Earth provides a series of other tools through the desktop application. Additional globes for the Moon and Mars are available, as well as a tool for viewing the night sky. Other features allow users to view photos from various places uploaded to Panoramic, information provided by Wikipedia on some locations, and Street View imagery.

 

With Google Earth and mapping tools, we can learn about diversity across biomes and cities, measure how a river has changed shape over time, or create a project highlighting architectural styles across the ages. Using Google Earth and Maps in classrooms can help visualize abstract concepts across a global canvas, allowing students to connect what they learn inside to what they experience in their daily lives, community, and to the larger world.

 

As geography is the study of planets, landforms, cropping patterns, and diverse climatic conditions, the use of technology like Google Earth can give practical exposures to the student while describing a particular landform, sea, ocean. It is very easy to navigate on google earth and taking a round of the globe pointing to and zooming in to a particular location in any continent.