Add your research under the appropriate headings.  If there is already something posted under the heading edit the post to incorporate the new information rather than just adding more material below what is already posted.

A.   Description of the Application

Google Earth is an interactive site that allows you to view the Earth using satellite imagery and maps.   You can see anywhere from outer space to the depths of the ocean (SS).

B.    Comparison of Online tools (Compare the features, costs, pros and cons of using different applications.)

Through google you can actually make your own map.  The website is called yourgmap.com.  It allows you to customize a map and all of its features to your needs.(CE)  

maps.com has a lot of different maps available however most of them were quite expensive.  They do have a free section however these maps are not very interactive.  This would be a quick and easy place to go to if you needed to print off basic maps to be distributed.  There also had a selection of classroom products available.

terraserver was a cool site that allowed you to view satellite photos of various landmarks around the globe.  This site was similar to google earth but I feel was not as good.  

C.    Examples of the use of this application in the classroom (include links to examples)

One example of this is a classroom project that I learned about from another teacher: wikispacesink12.wikispaces.com/HASTI+2009 . It is a presentation about wikis, but it includes an example from the presenters own classroom.  The students are currently studying earthquakes and he made a map for them to plot points.  They look up information each day and add points to the map with the appropriate information.(CE) Ok I guess it doesn't always work out like you want it to, but i'mtrying to get the link I listed to work.  I emailed the teacher and hopefully he will give me instructions so that you can see his very good project! (CE)

Here is a link to a site that shows  22 interesting ways and tips to use Goggle Earth in the classroom

http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dhn2vcv5_175fp5qg9d3

http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/GeogP/gearthplan/  is a site with many links to different sites showing ways to use Google earth in a classroom.

I use Google Earth to provide an overview of an upcoming 8th grade class trip to Washington, DC. We go over details of the trip and probable itineraries. They do some research on a variety of monuments, memorials, and museums. Then I zoom them in for an overhead view of the place where we stay. After that, we take an aerial tour of the stops we will make.  (RK)

D.   Suggestions for Use in the Classroom with Links to the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Students (Seehttp://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/NETS_for_Students_2007.htmfor the ISTE NETS.)

http://realworldmath.org/Real_World_Math/Typhoon_Project.html   Here is a cool project that is all set up using Goggle earth.   This project really addresses standard 2.

E.    Suggestions for Assessment (Include rubrics or other suggestions for assessing student projects.)

F.     Suggestions for Professional Uses (Include links to examples.)

G.   Safety/Security Concerns (Include suggestions for proactively handling these concerns, links to examples of sample parent letters, etc…)

The nice thing about using this site in a classroom is that there are far fewer safety concerns than with some other online applications that we have been talking about in this course.  As I looked throught the different lesson plans nothing really struck me as being a possible concern.   

H.   Current Research