Using the Magic Planet in the classroom GA Annual Conference 2007 Sean Gough

Using the Magic Planet in the classroom

GA Annual Conference 2007

Sean Gough

The GA says…

“…a fantastic tool for teaching and learning about planet

Earth…”

David LambertChief Executive, The Geographical

Association

A new classroom resource

City Learning Centres 30 nationally

Science Learning Centres

Individual schools, e.g. Sir Thomas Rich’s

School, Gloucester Cockermouth School,

Cumbria Riddlesdown Specialist

Science College, Purley

Coopers & Coborn School, Upminster

Background to the technology

Developed in USAUsed for visitor centres

NASA, NOAA, Epcot European Space Agency PPARC/NERC

UK has pioneered educational use

Now used in USA and China education

How does 3D help?

Very little information today displayed in 3D

We are becoming 2D “screen-blind” 3D creates greater audience

involvement More attention and faster learning Even a desire for repetition!

How does it work?

Standard projector (Dell)Specially coated globeSophisticated lensSoftware (Storyteller and

OnStage)Digital – no mechanical

movement

What is an exhibit?

Exhibits Many 100s already available Free!

Easy to find/make new exhibits 1 or more images in standard

format E.g. jpg, bmp, dds, etc. 2:1 aspect ratio 2048 x 1024 pixels

What is an exhibit?

Can I make my own content?

Yes!Over 100 exhibits includedHundreds of additional sources

Global Imagination Community

http://www.globalimagination.com/community.html

NASA Earth Observations (NEO)

http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov

Newsletters

EarthTrendshttp://www.earthtrends.wri.org/

UCAR/NCARNational Center for Atmospheric

Research

http://www.vets.ucar.edu/vg/categories/globalchange.shtml

NOAA/NGDC(National Geophysical Data

Center)http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/maps/interactivemaps.html

Worldmapperwww.worldmapper.org

Worldmapper

The National Curriculum

Key Stage 3 24 units 13 where

Magic Planet relevant

The National Curriculum

Lesson plans Steve Johnson

(Longton CLC, Stoke-on-Trent) 20 drafted 30 planned Available Free - now

Example - lesson 1Unit 2 – The Restless Earth

Example - lesson 14Unit 10 – Weather patterns over Europe

Creating the case

Humanities Geography History (www.timemaps.com)

Science Earth science The Solar System

Environmental scienceAstronomyGeology ArtA school resourceAn LA resource?

For further information

Sean GoughVivifeye Limitedsean@vivifeye.com0870 116 9400