Peer Review

Google Earth App for iOS

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Google Earth takes traveling to a new level with an interactive 3D map that allows for exploration from the continent to the street level. With its integration with Panoramio, you can even explore photos of the locations that you pick out on the map.
Type of Material:: Simulation
Recommended Uses:: Though the basic user process would be to find particular locations and explore them in the various views offered in the app, there are many potential assignments that could be created around this task of exploring and discovering locales.
Technical Requirements:: Requires iOS 4.3 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The app renders the traditional flat map view of the earth with 3D displays to support lifelike exploration of the globe on a mobile device.
Target Student Population:: Any grade or content
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Ability to download apps

Rating:
Strengths:: The renderings, from street views to shots of monuments and mountains, brings the globe to users with a few swipes and taps. As such, geography, cultural studies, history, and various other disciplines can utilize the app to support salient concepts within lessons of all kinds.
Concerns:: None

Rating:
Strengths:: The learning objectives are not predefined, but in the case of this app, the genius lies in the flexibility of the content, its presentation and potential usage. Instructors could easily create engaging and interactive lessons around the app that would manage to bring new life to their students' interaction with the course material.
Concerns:: None

Rating:
Strengths:: The app opens with a quick demonstration of how to perform several fingertip commands to navigate the globe. Additionally, the user can access information on advanced features from the Google website.
Concerns:: Getting used to navigating can take some time - it's not nearly as simple as they make it seem. Also, because of the great deal of data rendered, this app can be prone to crashing at times. It does not have the capabilities of the desktop version.

Other Issues and Comments:: Available in a free version thus offering students, teachers, and parents access 24/7. Tasks can be set up for working at individual pace or as group collaborative.
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