Google Earth Tours

The use of virtual globes, especially Google Earth, is becoming increasingly popular in both formal and informal education. However, previous studies show that students tend to use tours passively.

This project investigated how Google Earth Tours (GETs) can be effectively combined with related student activities. It focused on integrating them into an Active Learning approach.

A Human-Computer Interaction approach was used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data, including eye-tracking data. The goal was to understand which elements and on-screen aspects of the virtual landscape attract the user’s attention.

Based on the results, a set of guidelines and podcasts were produced. They offer concrete advice on integrating Google Earth Tours into an Active Learning approach.