(Using Google Street view in Teaching and Learning)

You Are Here!

Where are we now??

(Image from Google maps street view)

Lawrence Westland, eLearning advisor – City of Bristol College

How do they do it?dodecahedral camera array with multiple cameras that snap 360-degree views, plus GPS units for tracking location, mounted on…

(Images from Google images via CC Search tagged ‘labeled for commercial reuse with modification’)

So What can you use it for?

Virtual Tours – Geography awareness projects, language learning, Geology and History

Mapping exercises

Treasure/scavenger Hunts

Direction finding – Public Transport, driving, biking, walking

Creative photography/art projects

The immersive nature of street view provides a ‘real’ connection for users, which arguably enhances learning potential.

Where are we now??

Geoguessr – a virtual travel guessing game

Hyperlapse – time lapse of a journey

Examples

(Image from Google maps street view)

Strange street view image 1 – Horse Boy Aberdeen

Language Learning – Virtual Field Trips, tour guide, sign translation etc…

Where are we now??

(Image from Google maps street view)

Strange street view image 2 – Dog stuck in Gate (location unknown)

Maths in Madrid – Use of ‘My Maps’ to create real world maths activities.

Where are we now??

My maps allows you to create your own maps for free and collaborate with others.The example above involved making a ‘crowdsourced’ learning activity for maths teachers.

(Image from Google maps street view)

Strange street view image 3 – Horse Boy Aberdeen (again!)

Art – Google Art Project

Street view Artist Photographer Jon Rafman

Go inside and see the art close up using ‘museum view’

(Image from Google maps street view)

Strange street view image 4 – Seagull Brighton

Where else are we now??

Grand Canyon Street View

Galapagos Islands Project

Shackletons Hut

Heron island All potentially useful in teaching across various subjects.

What about the legal situation when using street view content?

‘Google has stated that it will not pursue anyone using its imagery for artistic purposes’ (the Independent July 2012)

Street View imagery may be incorporated into your project if 1) the imagery comes directly from the Google Maps API (Application Programming interface) or 2) the imagery is embedded or linked to on your website using the HTML and URL provided on Google Maps. These solutions ensure that if Google edits or removes imagery in response to user requests, these changes will be reflected in your project as well.

You may print Google-owned Street View content from Maps and Earth for personal use but not for distribution to others. If your project is both academic and non-commercial, you may also print a small number of Street View images (10 or fewer panoramas) for use in your materials, if the imagery does not contain people or identifiable vehicle license plate numbers. In all cases, you must attribute the imagery to Google.(Google permission guidelines for maps and earth)

But what about our Privacy??Google blurs faces and number plates automatically to prevent identification, some are concerned about their homes being viewed by ne’er do wells (some townspeople in Germany have requested entire streets of buildings blurred out on streetview).It’s not as if the images are current , certainly not in real time anyway – or are they……………..?

(Video from Youtube – by the vacationeers)

Here is a video on the subject

You can embed street view in your powerpoints too! – just download the live web add -in for ppt at http://www.howtogeek.com/

This presentation was just a short collection of possibilities and ideas to encourage teachers and trainers to start thinking about using this brilliant (free) resource in their teaching – by exploring you can discover new ways of engaging and enthusing students.

Lawrence.

Feel free to contact me and share ideas/ask questions:lawrence.westland@cityofbristol.ac.uk