TAKE A GEO FIELD TRIP WITH GOOGLE EARTH

Select Subject of Field Trip Volcanoes Volcanoes Glacial features Glacial features Faults and folds Faults and folds Mining impacts Mining impacts Geology of specific national park Geology of specific national park Physiography of a state or region Physiography of a state or region Stream drainage patterns Stream drainage patterns Features of rivers & streams Features of rivers & streams Coastal features Coastal features Many other possibilities Many other possibilities

Find the Features You Need If you know of specific geologic features, search for them directly in Google Earth If you know of specific geologic features, search for them directly in Google Earth By “search” or by “exploring”By “search” or by “exploring” ExamplesExamples search “Yosemite National Park” search “Yosemite National Park” explore the coastal Gulf of Mexico to locate the Mississippi River Delta, barrier islands, or sediment plumes from rivers explore the coastal Gulf of Mexico to locate the Mississippi River Delta, barrier islands, or sediment plumes from rivers

Find the Features You Need If you are not familiar with specific examples of the geologic features If you are not familiar with specific examples of the geologic features Keyword search on the Internet for the feature name + Google EarthKeyword search on the Internet for the feature name + Google Earth Example: sinkholes + Google Earth Example: sinkholes + Google Earth

If you are not familiar with specific examples of the geologic features, cont’d. If you are not familiar with specific examples of the geologic features, cont’d. Check earth science textbooks or other reference books for specific examples of the feature(s), then locate them by searching in Google Earth or by exploringCheck earth science textbooks or other reference books for specific examples of the feature(s), then locate them by searching in Google Earth or by exploring Textbook mentions Crater Lake as example of a caldera (locate by “search”), or Appalachian Valley & Ridge as example of folded rocks - exploring in Google Earth by comparing with your reference’s illustrations/maps Textbook mentions Crater Lake as example of a caldera (locate by “search”), or Appalachian Valley & Ridge as example of folded rocks - exploring in Google Earth by comparing with your reference’s illustrations/maps Textbook has a sidebar about collapsed sinkholes in Florida – “search” Florida & then explore for sinkholes Textbook has a sidebar about collapsed sinkholes in Florida – “search” Florida & then explore for sinkholes

If you are not familiar with specific geologic features, cont’d.If you are not familiar with specific geologic features, cont’d. Keyword search on the Internet for the feature of interest & find names of specific examples Keyword search on the Internet for the feature of interest & find names of specific examples Example: search the Internet for “cinder cones in the U.S.”, then use Google Earth “search” to locate specific features named in your search results or within one of the websites obtainedExample: search the Internet for “cinder cones in the U.S.”, then use Google Earth “search” to locate specific features named in your search results or within one of the websites obtained Bookmark websites found in your searches that have useful information such as photos, videos, links to publications, etc.Bookmark websites found in your searches that have useful information such as photos, videos, links to publications, etc.

If you are not familiar with specific geologic features, cont’d.If you are not familiar with specific geologic features, cont’d. In Google Earth, explore & examine locations likely to contain the features In Google Earth, explore & examine locations likely to contain the features Example: Many alpine glacial features are present in the Cascade Mountain RangeExample: Many alpine glacial features are present in the Cascade Mountain Range Explore major mountains in the Cascades, such as Mt. Rainier or Mt. Hood Explore major mountains in the Cascades, such as Mt. Rainier or Mt. Hood Compare your explorations with text diagrams, photos, or definitions Compare your explorations with text diagrams, photos, or definitions

When you have located a feature to visit Use zoom, tilt, pan, and rotate functions in Google Earth to examine the feature and to locate the best viewing angle and eye height Use zoom, tilt, pan, and rotate functions in Google Earth to examine the feature and to locate the best viewing angle and eye height When you have the best view to illustrate the geologic feature, construct a placemark for the feature When you have the best view to illustrate the geologic feature, construct a placemark for the feature

Placemarks Give your placemark a title Give your placemark a title Briefly describe the geologic history or importance of the feature, or develop questions for students to answer Briefly describe the geologic history or importance of the feature, or develop questions for students to answer Add hyperlinks to informative Web sites, photos, videos Add hyperlinks to informative Web sites, photos, videos Add hyperlinks to your own photos and videos, or insert these media directly into your placemark information Add hyperlinks to your own photos and videos, or insert these media directly into your placemark information

Caveat If you plan to “publish” your field trip, i.e., make it available to the general public via the Internet, make sure that photos, videos, etc., used directly in your trip are non-copyrighted, public domain, or available through appropriate Creative Commons or other sharing agreements If you plan to “publish” your field trip, i.e., make it available to the general public via the Internet, make sure that photos, videos, etc., used directly in your trip are non-copyrighted, public domain, or available through appropriate Creative Commons or other sharing agreements Make sure that any of this “borrowed material” you use other than your own are properly credited in the placemarks Make sure that any of this “borrowed material” you use other than your own are properly credited in the placemarks

WHAT NOW? Create overlays Create overlays Set up a tour with tour functions Set up a tour with tour functions Create paths Create paths Share field trip via blogs, wikis, or Google Earth Community Share field trip via blogs, wikis, or Google Earth Community Develop student exercises involving a geo tour Develop student exercises involving a geo tour Set up questions within the placemark text materialSet up questions within the placemark text material Or use a student worksheet with questions keyed to your placemarked locationsOr use a student worksheet with questions keyed to your placemarked locations Use the tour as “background reading” assignment Use the tour as “background reading” assignment Assign field trip as student project or exercise Assign field trip as student project or exercise Have students create their own field trips as class projects Have students create their own field trips as class projects