Quite simply, Google has dominated the web because of the vast amount of tools it provides. Bloggers can conduct research, trace website speed, and drive traffic to their websites. Educators can utilize Google Earth for geographical studies, Google Trends to help children understand the shifting tides in society, and Google Gravity to teach children about astrology.
It’s amazing how far Google has come from its beginnings. Developers are making billions of dollars creating engaging applications so people can download them to their laptops, smart phones, and other devices. But aside from content marketing, today’s youth can benefit greatly from these 4 Google tools:
1. Google Earth
In June 2001, Google introduced the “Earth” application, and it transformed the way we locate countries, cities, homes, and plot coordinates. Many teachers are using this application to show children how the earth looks, and how to use coordinates to pinpoint a location. However, the introduction of Google Earth has been huge for developers in the education sector. How? They’ve created 3D goggles allowing students to take expeditions to different places in this world. This technology has allowed countries who can’t afford real class trips to still provide opportunities to their students. As part of a recent project, Google is donating 3D goggles to third world countries so they can give children the opportunity to explore.
The amazing thing about Google Earth is that it’s free so everyone can use it no matter where they are in the world.
2. Google Trends
There will come a point when children need to conduct research for an essay. Even if they are just writing a basic one-page paper on a topic, they still need to learn how to research. The introduction of Google Trends has allowed children to seamlessly find the information they are seeking. As a matter of fact, teachers are adding research paper assignments to their curricula because Google has provided an easy way to effortlessly find trending topics. Google Trends is a tool which provides data on growing searches focused around a specific keyword. All that’s required from the student is a starting point or “target” keyword.
The results will show what people are searching, how it’s growing, and by doing further research, why the trend is growing. Children are now asked to focus on a topic and put together a list of other relevant keywords. This concept requires children to think about the future and in what direction society is heading.
3. Google Gravity
This tool was first introduced so you can prank your friend into thinking their screen was collapsing. However, it started to gain popularity with teachers since it helped explain the concept of gravity to their students. Google Gravity has incorporated other tools like Sphere which spins search results where students can control the direction. Google Anti-Gravity which creates an environment of floating objects is a great way to show children what happens if gravity is NOT on our planet.
If you like aquariums, then you’ll enjoy Google Underwater. This tool turns your screen into an aquarium with sharks and various species of fish.
4. Google Keyword Planner
If you want a creative way to teach children about related keywords use the Google keyword planner, one of the best tools to conduct research. It’s a free tool offered by Google allowing you to paste in a “target” keyword, and find similar words or phrases quickly. It’s great when writing content for the web, or if you want to show children how keywords should be grouped together.
It’s no secret Google has changed the way we interact online. It’s also remarkable how Google expanded from being just a search engine into a multi-faceted educational platform for children. If you have children or are a teacher, then you might want to consider introducing the tools above to your class. They are great for learning purposes and will help them think outside of the box.
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