Google Maps

Google Maps has introduced a fantastic new feature. It's simply called Google Maps Gallery. It serves as a phenomenal digital atlas to retrieve various types of geographic data. Being a science geek, my personal favorite is the Seasonal Sea Surface Temperature Averages Map.

(note: if the map fails to load, click the shield icon in the browser address bar, and allow unsafe script)



This is a great resource for finding various types of geographic data for students to explore appropriate concepts in greater detail. The maps are easily viewed in Google maps, and offer the option to download the KML to load into Google Earth for better exploration.

Explore the Google Maps Gallery, you can probably find something that pertains to your current curriculum.

Making Sense of Data

Google will be offering a FREE, data analysis class through the use of Google Apps For Education, called Making Sense Of Data.

This is a great opportunity for teachers to brush up on their database skills to better teach students how to manipulate data using Google Apps. It is also a great opportunity for students to hone their data analysis abilities. There is potential for this self paced, three week course to work very well within a math or science curriculum, for middle to secondary level students.

Your guaranteed to learn something new, and it's free!

Graphic Design Made Simple

As a teacher, I often require students to be creative and present projects that are visually pleasing and unique. I am by no means an artist, and struggle drawing the simplest stick figure scene. Today,  I discovered a tool called Canva that allows even the best stick figure artists to become a decent graphic designer.

I created this  graphic in about 12 seconds. Again, I am by no means an artist, and will never claim to be.  But, within a few seconds I was able to create a decent image of the water cycle with the help of Canva.

 Imagine what students could create when challenged to present their ideas through a visual? Students are very creative and innovative. When provided with the appropriate opportunity and tools,  students creativity and innovation can be dramatically enhanced.

Canva  is user friendly, and allows anyone to express their creativity, even if they are not an artist. It offers students a simple, creative platform to produce presentations, posters, and other visualizations. It's easy to create an account, navigate the interface, create art, and share images. Canva allows the creator  to download their art to be able to upload to various social media sites for sharing and collaboration. Images are also saved in common format compatible with major editing tools like Gimp, Pixlr and Photoshop.

Add Canva to your  toolbox and provide students with an alternative way to convey their knowledge of the content.