In my last blog post, I introduced you to the Google Drive suite of applications. Now that you have had time to experiment with those and perhaps even implement them into your classroom, I have three more lesser known, “hidden Gems”, for World Languages teachers. As with the others, these are Google based, so they are reliable and there is always a resource at the Google Help Forum for you in case you have any questions. Here are three of my favorites:
#1 The Google Cultural Institute
You and your students can explore the world from the comfort of your own classroom. What was once the Google Art Project has been expanded to incorporate Culture and History from all over the world. Use the Cultural institute to take a virtual field trip to museums, experience moments in History and meet cultural figures from all over the world. This has been a phenomenal tool in my classroom – I have used it to bring the towns, cities and people in our textbook to life and to provide background information prior to taking my own students on tour.
#2 Google Lit Trips
Bring whatever you are reading to life – Google lit trips was created by a Literature teacher in California so that he could have his students experience what they were reading on multiple sensory levels. Google Lit Trips uses technology to combine visual and audio files with Google Earth and other platforms so that students can read, explore and experience the story. Check out creator Jerome Burg’s Lit trip for The Kite Runner and then learn more about using Lit Trips here:
#3 Google Earth Tour Builder
Google Earth is well known to teachers all over the world. It is used to acclimate students geographically as well as to provide a street view of points of interest prior to taking a trip. On my last voyage with my own students we were able to use Google Earth to pinpoint our location on a world map that would display photos for parents who were watching our journey from their computers at home. Tour builder takes that experience one step further by allowing teachers to either show places that they will be visiting or to create a memento of places that they have been – create a tour using Google Earth and then insert text, photos and even videos to bring your tour to life. Tour Builder is still only in its Beta Stage, but you can Get Started with Tour Builder here.
So there you have it, three different ways to enhance your student’s experience – both inside and outside of the classroom. Enjoy!
Dianna Altmiller
USA Academic Manager
