Google has recently released a new layer for Google Earth. This time it’s Ancient Rome in 3D with the help of the University of Virginia Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities Rome Reborn Project. Translated for you acronym lovers, UV’s IATH’s Rome Reborn Project. This is the first time and hopefully not the last time (hint hint Google) that your favorite “little big company” has released a layer for an ancient city. Just a fair warning you need to add it to your current Google Earth install.
There is tons of three dimensional data for this layer so the just with anything Google Earth, the larger your “tubes” the smoother the application flows. I suggest avoiding the wireless network in your school. Break out the cat5 and jack up! The system requirements for the Ancient Rome 3D layer is also greater than what is needed to run Google Earth, so you have been warned.
Google has also added a competition with the release of the Ancient Rome 3D layer. Christened the Ancient Rome 3D Curriculum Competition (ingenious). It’s open to K-12 educators who want to show off what you got. No, not those booty shots on your MySpace page (profiles are only private if you don’t know how to hack it). Your get to show off your techno-demic skills in creatively developing a curriculum integrating Ancient Rome 3D layer content and your classroom curricula. In addition to Google granting the top 6 submission Google educator honors online as they explain on the site, the prize packages include:
* Apple MacBook laptop
* Digital classroom projector
* Digital camera
* 3D Navigation mouse
* $500 in gift cards to Target or Office Depot
* Engraved Google “Top Educator” plaque
You can register as an individual teacher or as a team at the contest site after the jump. The submission deadline is February 9, 2009.
Tags: 3D Layer, Ancient Rome, competition, contest, curricula, curriculum, Google Earth, Google for Education, IATH, Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, k-12, prize, Rome Reborn, techno-demic, University of Virginia