Good Reasons to have Internet in Class, Part 1

Often when Internet access in class is considered, it is not a positive thing. But while it can easily be abused, there are some good reasons to have the Internet on during class. Today I used two in particular, one is kind of common, but I think the second is at least an unusual use of a web service.

Google Maps

Maps are a great way to put things in perspective. Today in Sociological Investigation, the Professor pulled out a large paper map of Chicago. We have been reading a book about a Sociological study in Robert Taylor Homes, and the Professor wanted to show us the areas talked about in the book. So we all crowded around the table and tried to make heads or tails of the area and to find the places mentioned. Unfortunately, while we saw the general area, we couldn’t locate the specific streets without using up too much class time, so we dispersed to our seats.

I quickly connected to Geneva’s wireless network and brought up Google Maps. I put in “Robert Taylor Homes,” and quickly had a satellite picture map of the area, with various possible locations marked, some with histories of the area, and other information. If the projector had been on, I would have plugged my computer in, and we could have explored the area. In fact, with some of Google’s neat tech wizardry, Street View, we could have “walked” around some of the streets in the area and seen what it looks like today. The projector wasn’t on, so we didn’t use it, but it was interesting just for my learning.

I do say Google here, and the truth is that most on-line map providers would work, but there are some good reasons to use Google: Its pretty quick, often quicker than other map providers, it has Street View, Satellite View, and the regular map view, and it has lots of information about the area available right on the map.

Tomorrow: Using Google Books in class!