Google Street View adds over 250,000 miles of roads - explore more of the world!

Google Maps Street View is a great resource for teachers and students to explore the world right from their classroom. Street view recently added the Great Barrier Reef and Google just announced a huge update, adding over 250,000 miles of roads around the world to street view. This means that there is more of the world to explore via Google Maps. You can explore parks, cities, castles, tourist attractions, and more from countries around the world. This update adds more coverage from Macau, Singapore, Sweden, the US, Thailand, Taiwan, Italy, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway and Canada. There are also some new special collections from South Africa, Japan, Spain, France, Brazil and more.

Imagine being able to explore and visit palaces, monastaries, memorials, and parks right from your computer.  This is a great way to help your students explore and experience more of the world around them.

The courtyard of Kronborg castle, Denmark

Google Maps goes Underwater! Explore the Great Barrier Reef

Google Maps is a great resource for more than just finding your way around. It includes street view, inside building views and panoramic views, along with other resources that make it great for education. Take virtual field trips around the world and take virtual trips to museums.

Google has just announced a new set of panoramas in Google Maps - The Great Barrier Reef. I'm a SCUBA diver and the Great Barrier Reef is a place I'd love to dive. But, I have a back injury and can't dive for a while, so this is very exciting for me.

You can now explore coral reefs in Australia, the Philippines and Hawaii. You can find fish, sea turtles, manta rays, and much more. There is also more information about the reef at the World Wonders Project. Teachers and students can explore this awesome underwater world and learn more about the habitat and species living there.

Google also has a complete underwater collection, featuring a Google+ underwater Hangout from the Great Barrier Reef.

Check out the interactive map and video below.

Related:

More great resources and information about Google Maps in Education. 
(indoor maps, wonders of the world, virtual field trips, and much more.)

Google for Education Resources
(all kinds of great resources, tips, and ideas for using a variety of Google apps and resources in education)

Source: The Official Google Blog

How Google Builds its Maps

Google Maps are a great resource in many ways. Obviously, they are great for plotting trips and getting directions and the mobile versions have GPS directions. There are also some great features for education including taking virtual tours of different places around the world, including museums (see links below for more information).

The Atlantic, an online magazine, has a great article that explains exactly how Google makes Maps. The article is well written and has some really interesting technology and methods that Google uses.

This is a great resource to use to show students how ingenuity and creativity are important and how technology can be helpful, related to something that they have all used before or at least have heard about.

Check out the article and learn more: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/how-google-builds-its-maps-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-everything/261913/



Related:

Google Maps adds Photo Tours of World Landmarks - in 3D

Google Maps now has street views of Brazil and Prehispanic Mexican Cities

Why I Use Google's Products as an Educator

Google for Educators Resources, Tips, Help, and more

Visit the Amazon with Google Maps Street View - great resource

WhatWasThere - historical photos linked to Google Maps - visit the past!

WhatWasThere - historical photos linked to Google Maps - visit the past!

WhatWasThere is an excellent resource for geography, history, and fun. It connects historical photos to Google Maps, letting you see what places looked like in the past. You can tour locations, browse photos and even upload your own historical photos.

This is a great way to explore the world historically, or just take a look at what your hometown looked like in the past. Social Studies, History, and Geography classes could use this as learning activities or projects.

Here is a photo of the Frisbee Pie Company from the early 1900's. Their pie plate throwing contest led to the original Frisbee.

Google Maps adds Photo Tours of World Landmarks - in 3D

Google Maps is an amazing resource. Google has just announced a new feature of Google Maps - Photo Tours. Photo Tours are 3D photo scenes of over 15,000 popular sites from around the world, including Yosemite, St. Mark's Basilica, Trevi Fountain, Buckingham Palace, the Anne Frank house and much more.

When you search for a location in Google Maps, the left panel will let you know if there is a photo tour available, as well as the info label for a landmark on a map.

Google used photos from Picasa and Panromio to create the 3D tours. The technology and result is amazing. Photos are attributed to whomever contributed them.

Please note that using photo tours requires Google Maps with WebGL so some computers won't be able to run it. 

This is a great way to visit places without leaving your home, and a great way to have students visit these places without the expense or hassle of actually traveling there. 

Take a look around and visit some wonderful places. http://maps.google.com/phototours


Source: Google Lat Long Blog

Related:

Why I Use Google's Products as an Educator
Google for Educators Resources, Tips, Help, and more

Visit the Amazon with Google Maps Street View - great resource