1. The Learning Ecology potential of
Google Earth
A pedagogical framework for assessing the
ecological niche of online learning environments
and tools.

2. Gerard Brady
MA ePedagogy Design – Visual Knowledge Building
Aalto University – Department of Art Education
May 2010

3. Primary Research
Question
What is the Learning
Ecology potential of Google
Earth?

4. Secondary Research Questions
What is the pedagogical framework underpinning
the learning ecology metaphor?
What is the educational potential of Google Earth?
Could a learning ecology framework be used to
evaluate educational tools and environments?

5. Relevance of research
Multimedia and Connective
properties of the web
Precipitating a paradigm shift
Lack of attention to learning ecology

6. Relevance of research
Geobrowsing of web info.
Emergence of the geoweb
Google Earth as a learning
environment/tool

7. Learning Ecology

8. Ecology
Study of the
interactions between
organisms and their
environment.

9. Ecological perspectives

10. Ecological perspectives
Systems science & Cybernetics
Telematic culture
Ecological Systems Theory

11. Other Ecology Metaphors
Media Ecology
Information/Knowledge Ecology

12. Learning Ecology Definition 1
Brown (2000)
”a collection of overlapping communities of interest,
cross-pollinating with each other; constantly
evolving; and largely self-organising.”
• Learning as situated in context

13. Learning Ecology Definition 2
Siemens (2007)
”the space or context in which networks function.”
• Learning as network formation

14. Learning Ecology Principles
• Informal and decentralised
• Adaptable and self-organising
• Ubiquitous and evolving
• Social and collaborative
• Unrestrictive and experimentative

15. Pedagogical basis
1. Learning as situated (in Communities of
Practice)
2. Learning as network formation (Connectivism)

16. Learning as situated
(in Communities of Practice)
• Community of practice - informal groups of shared
interests, building, collaborating and sharing
• Learning occurs through application of knowledge
in communities of practice
• Diverse interacting and evolving communities
fundamental to health of the learning ecology

17. Learning as network formation
(Connectivism)
• Knowledge is dynamic and evolving and structured
within a interdependent network of individuals and
communities
• Learning occurs through formation of network in
the ’space’ of the ecology
• Supported by environment of tools, resources and
technology (media)

18. Theoretical implications
1. Toward a Pedagogical Ecology
2. Learning ecology as unifying learning theory

19. Towards a pedagogical ecology
• Multi-dimensional pedagogical perspective
• Based on learning settings and individual
preferences of learner
• Learner adapts to context and content

20. Learning ecology as a unifier of
learning theories
• Learning not bound by theoretical assumptions,
but does not exclude them
• Learning theory often depends on learning context
or setting
• As the context or setting changes the underlying
learning theory should also

22. Learning ecology and the web
• Technology as a conduit of learning in the network
• Multiple forms of intelligence
• Multimedia promotes stronger perception of
knowledge realtionships in the network

24. Google Earth

25. Background
• Rapid development in technology
• Convergence and standardisation of geodata
• Availability of satellite and aerial imagery
• Digital Earth Initiative – Al Gore
• Keyhole Inc. – EarthBrowser 3D

26. What is Google Earth
Goodchild (2008)
”Google Earth provides a distinct perspective of
Earth, allowing users to view its surface in varying
amounts of detail and display assorted aspects of
any location.”

28. Key elements
• Client-side technology
• 3D perspective
• Transportabale and scalable data
• Interactive and engaging
• Extendable – via API

29. Key opportunities
Geovisualization
• Organising and communicating spatial knowledge
• Issues of design, perspective and reliability
NeoGeography, Mash-up and VGI
• Informal network volunteering geoinformation
• Integration of Google Earth with other apps

30. Education in Google Earth
Lund & Macklin (2007)
• Spatial literacy
• Visualization
• Engaging narrative
• Critical reflection

31. State of Education
• Various educational resources in Google Earth
• Google Earth Outreach initiative – funding for
NGO’s and community
• Visualization of data in research

32. Crisis in Darfur, USHMM

33. Climate Change in Our World, Met Office UK

34. Glaciers and Climate Change, NSIDC

35. Voyages of Matthew Flinders,
Stephen Nicholson

36. Assessment framework & criteria
1. Accessibility - Openness, technical, socio-cultural
2. Adaptability - Discretionary, modular, scalable
3. Social - Connective, collaborative, appraisal
4. Personal - Decentralised, expressive, identifiable

37. Assessment of Google Earth
openness
4 Accessibility
identifiable technical
3
Personal
expressive 2 socio-cultural
1
decentralised 0 discretionary
appraisal modular Adaptability
collaborative scalable
Social connective

38. Conclusions
• Metaphor for wider shift with web as a platform
• Challenges existing theory and pedagogy
• Extends learning to include evolving network of
interdependent individuals, communities and
environmental setting.

39. Conclusions
• Google Earth as a platform for visualization
• State of education limited, but opportunities exist
• Compatible with learning ecology, but requires
further development of personal and social
functionality