When I was in school, the only "technology" that existed in the classroom was the school-issued record player and on occasion, the teacher would bring in the movie projector.

The movie projector would inevitably eat the film that wound mysteriously in, up, and over its various levers. Once that happened, the teacher turned the lights on, tried using tape to fix the movie and if all went well, the movie was shown to its completion. Today, thankfully, teachers have many more options to choose from to supplement the classroom experience. White boards have replaced chalk boards, laptops have replaced overhead projectors, CDs have replaced records, and DVDs and You Tube videos have replaced those not-too-reliable movies on film.

The Internet has changed a teacher's palette of tools as well. With Web browsers and search tools, like Google Search, teachers and students can find information online on any subject in less time than it took me to find the librarian to ask where the card catalog was. More specialized geographic browsers, like Google Earth, bring the world's geographic information to teachers and students in a new and unique way. Google Earth's satellite imagery creates a 3D model of the entire planet, giving students an opportunity to explore in ways never before possible. The many layers provided in Google Earth include treasures and gems for both teachers and students. From literature to science and from math to history, Google Earth provides a compelling and fresh way to teach, learn, and explore.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be providing more insight into Google Earth and its treasure chest, as well as other great new technology tools like Sky, Maps, and SketchUp. I'll introduce these tools and give you practical information on how to best use them in the classroom.

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