Google map and google earth

I showed them how to use google map. They gasped. Then I clicked on google earth. There's a plug in that I need to install. At first I wasn't going to do it but since the students insisted on it, I submitted to their request. Once google earth works, there's a lot of "aaahh...." and the such. The exact image seen from a satellite. Plus the difference tone of blue for the different depth of the sea. And the different tone of green and brown for the land. Then I move the joy stick. It was helicopter view or airplane view or spaceship view, depending on your height.

Then I moved on to our housing area. Asking google map or google earth to show the route from nearest town to the school, riding a car. Or the route from their house to the school using walking option. The distance and estimated traveling time are also given by the google map/earth. All these are not comparable to anything that the students have ever experience before. They were so thrilled.

The assignment was to do research on all the unknown ethnics of Malaysia for their sivics lesson. I instructed them to include google map or google earth of the region where each ethnic can be found in their PowerPoint presentation and in their report. School holiday assignment to fill up their time with something useful and interesting. They are pretty excited about it.

One of the best time of being a teacher is when you see the faces of the students being lighten up with excitement for learning something new or for understanding something difficult. Its like the bud of a rose slowly opening up. It makes your day.

May Allah bless all our teachers. May Allah bless all our students. May Allah bless us all.