Science

=SCIENCE=

= Technology = = = = = = = = = = Curriculum Standard = = = = = 8th Grade- Earth and Space Sciences: Benchmark E- Describe the processes that contribute to the continuous changing of the Earth's surface.
 * Internet: GoogleEarth

= Description =

Students will be given a list of geologic phenomena (volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc ) and using GoogleEarth will find their locations and discover their actual size, location, damage caused, and surrounding topography. Each student or group of students will summarize one of the phenomena, write a summary of the event, then share their findings with the class.

= Supporting Research =

Numerous publications and scholarly research support the idea that students learn through a variety of methods. //Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works //cites the importance of linguistic and nonlinguistic learning experiences for students. The idea that students retain more knowledge when they can visualize or 'see' what they are learning, is supported by research-based evidence in this book. In this activity students are 'seeing' the actual areas or events that occur across the Earth's surface so that they will have a more comprehensive understanding of processes that shape the Earth's surface.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). //Using technology with classroom instruction that works //. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

= = = Tried & True or New & Innovative? =

New & Innovative- Using GoogleEarth as an interactive piece of technology for student-centered learning, the students are discovering real-life phenomena that have affected the topography and populations of the Earth's surface.