Photo by Ken Odor
Teacher Kimberly Berry and freshman Emily Schlake bring up Google Earth on Schlake’s computer. Students in Berry’s two Digital Visualization classes at Goochland High School spent hours photographing, measuring and modeling structures in three dimensions for inclusion in the Google Earth Map.

0 Comments Email Article Tweet This Share

Many of us have heard of Google Earth, a project that uses satellite imagery to show, in vivid detail, places from all over the world.

Now Google Earth viewers can also see an enhanced version of the Goochland Courthouse area.

That’s because students in Kimberly Berry’s two Digital Visualization classes at Goochland High School spent hours photographing, measuring and modeling structures in three dimensions for inclusion in the Google Earth Map.

It was part of Berry’s G21 project, which encourages students to learn 21st century skills, with emphasis on collaboration and integration of a variety disciplines, using a real world model.

”My students used the power of technology to explore the beauty in their own backyard and connect with their community in a series of projects,” wrote Berry on her blog.

Berry said she was surprised to find out that some of he students had never seen the old Courthouse Complex up close.

“It helped the kids connect to the town of Goochland,” she said.

So far, 16 buildings have been accepted by Google and are included in what a viewer sees, said Berry.  Four more are under consideration.

“It’s basically the whole earth,” said sophomore Ian Bates, who, along with partner Austin Bosher, modeled the Three Oaks Equine building for the project.

Some of the other courthouse area buildings accepted were the Goochland Post Office, the old Courthouse building, 3 Fellers Bakery, Dr. Barnes’ office and the Clothes Closet of the Goochland Family Services & Free Clinic.

In order to produce the models, students had to photograph and measure the buildings. To determine the buildings’ heights they used a clinometer. Then they came back to the Technology Center and used PhotoShop, a software program, to resize their images, and a program called SketchUp to create the models.

Freshman Emily Schlake said she spent many hours working on a model of one of the Parrish Ford buildings.

“It’s not as easy as it looks,” she said. “I had to do it over a bunch of times because I got it wrong.”

Schlake said she had to take many separate photos and combine them to get her model right.

Freshmen Nick McGuire and Caleb Doody worked on the James Klopton Knibb building.

“When it comes to using SketchUp they are like seniors,” said Berry of the pair.

McGuire demonstrated how to use the program to produce a three-dimensional box which he then overlaid with photos to create the final image.

“They had to learn to simplify,” explained Berry, since normally her students try to create as much detail as possible in their models.

“You have to make a 3-D box in SketchUp as basic as can be,” said Doody.

Berry said the class is finished with the Google Earth project. The class is now learning new skills while working on images for the 3D Warehouse project for Google.

To find out more about the project check out Berry’s blog at http://blogs.glnd.k12.va.us/teachers/kberry/category/a-g21-adventure/

There are no comments for this entry