In my Google Earth project I discussed WWII battles as well as WWII related sites (I thought that the extra five points for a school related project would be great). I tried a variety of different features in my project, some worked better than others. I used quite a few image overlays as they were very simple. This was basically cutting and pasting. I also used the creating and measuring paths features. The last feature that I used was the polygon.
I felt that overall the Google Earth program is awful. If you had the choice of projects, I would definitely advise against using it at all. If you had to work with Google Earth, I noticed that all of the "advanced" features were simple to use. So using these would be great for a person lacking skills with technology. Although I have said that these applications are simple and great, there are still some big flaws. I would recommend that you set aside a lot of time when working on Google Earth, as the program is deathly slow because of how long it takes to load. Besides being slow, your work is not guaranteed to save and, your images may not load properly. Some of my images still have some trouble. I would like to finally say that you will need a lot of time to get to know the program. The features themselves are poorly explained in the users' guide so it is hard to know what some are for. I still don't know what the true purpose of a polygon si and I gave up on some of the harder topics.
I feel that sharing the project itself was terrible. The option of Google maps was extremely complicated. It was as simple as emailing it to the instructor and then having her post it as an attachment on the site. After this, it was as simple as a click of the mouse and you had someone else' project to view.
I'm hoping that in the future, I will never have to work with this program again.
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I just want to take the chance to comment on a few of your comments:
ReplyDeleteYes, the advanced features are easy to use, and actually, that's one of Google's cornerstones - most of their products ARE easy to use. Like we talked about last week, advanced is a bit of a stretch in this instance, but nonetheless, they are more advanced than the basic add a tag feature.
The reason the application runs slow in the classroom is b/c it streams, and everyone is streaming at the same time in the classroom, which sucks up major bandwidth!
Your work will save each time as long as you make sure you have highlighted the right folder, and you log into the same computer each time. The reason people had issue is b/c people weren't highlighting the right folder before they saved.
The image issue is an issue. It seems to randomly save those. No program is perfect. And that statement is true of almost any application, whether it's online or for purchase.
I absolutely agree with you on the polygon feature. I'll need to do some searching to see how and why that feature would even be worth exploring.
I'm sorry you had a rough go with it, but I hope you understand how it could be used if you need to use it again. Not every application is for everyone!
Cole, I must say that I agree with the majority of all the points that you made.
ReplyDeleteBut I believe that your Google Earth project was pretty amazing. I think that it would be good for a history teacher to use. Because it would help give students that are learning about WW2 a better visual about what they are learning. You also had very good pictures to help me remember what we have already learned.
I also think that it was really cool that instead of just using Google Earth for your life. I had never even thought about it.
Overall though I think you did really good on this project, and you were really good at being able to point out the negatives in this application.
Nice Job(:
Cole you are obsessed. Sure it is a good topic to be obsessed about and i like learning about WWII but really you spent too much on one type of thing. I don't agree with you when it comes to Google Earth. It is simple and it didn't take me too much time to figure it out. The polygons could be used for showing buildings in 3D i think.
ReplyDeleteCole Rushford, while taking a very negative approach to the usefulness of the Google Earth application, is conversely a very avid producer of Google Earth KMZ files, it seems.
ReplyDeleteHis route displaying various World War II sites of significance contains very in-depth views into the true happenings of these places. He provides information about places I had no idea existed, and information about places I did.
At some points, it did seem to me that Cole may have been stretching to fit more applications in--such as the seemingly extraneous Pentagon--but these errant thoughts are easily dismissed and not truly worthy of attention.
In all else, Cole's Google Earth project is exemplary indeed, and a magnanimous example that even Cole the Commie can create something remotely interesting.
Bravo, Cole; I applaud you.
-Peter
P.S. Cole is not actually a communist.
Cole,
ReplyDeleteAfter viewing your Google Earth project and reading your blog about your overall experience with this application, I have to agree that it was tedious and at times frustrating, but all in all I think you did a pretty great job with your Google Earth project. You chose something original, unlike what seemed to be the generic route of one's own life (myself included on using that topic.) Also, this project really translates that with the extra effort you showed with your long write-ups for your placemarks, that you enjoy studying this subject. I also like your pentagon on the Pentagon.
Cole,
ReplyDeleteI thought that your presentation was very informative. I thought you made a great choice when you chose your topic since maybe there could be a day when you could actually use this presentation in a class again. I definitely agree with you that Google Earth would not be my application of choice because it is so hard to deal with. The only aspect of your project that i did not enjoy was the pictures but only because i feel that wars are depressing. :(
Great Job!
-Alex
Cole, I have to say that I found your presentation quite boring. Your picture overlays were not that clear and I think they would need to be for a project as complicated as WWII. I did like the overlay for Normandy though. I though that was pretty neat how the overlay lined up with the coast. Your project was boring
ReplyDeletesam roy