Regular Posting-15
I just read an interesting article by Sylvain Genevois(1) about Geoportal, which is the equivalence of a French Google Earth. It interested me to see that this tool as well as Google Earth and Nasa worldwind are used in the French classrooms to teach geography.
Their use is still limited to an iconic vision of the world. There is no real interaction. But this tool allow another perception of the world and gives the world another dimension.
As I mentioned in my last post I find Google Earth and Geoportal interesting tools to use in a LOTE classroom. When we teach the Italian language teachers also mentioned the ancient Rome. It can be interesting to show them how the Roman patrimony is still present; most of the Italian cities are constructed on ancient cities. With a vision from above students can easily see the cardo and Decumanus and have a better understanding of the importance of this patrimony.
Because teaching languages is not only about languages Google Earth and other Geoprotals facilitate the integration of cultural and geographical points. Paradoxically, these tools do make the experience of learning a new culture and a new languages more real.
The crossed geographical aspect of the city of Turin based onto the antic city of Augusta Taurinorum. Google Earth Image, 02/11/2008.
(1)Sylvain Genevois is a French geograph writing articles for the journal M@appemonde sustained by the National Centre of the Scientific Research (France).
