November 3, 2010

Virtual Windshield Tours: Integrating Google Maps and Earth

into the Health Education Classroom Presenters

Melissa Haithcox-Dennis, Assistant Professor, Health EducationAllen Dennis, Graduate Assistant, Instructional Technology

BACKGROUND

COMMUNITY HEALTH

The health status of a defined group of people and the actions and conditions to protect and improve the health of the community.1

COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATOR

A professionally prepared individual who serves in a variety of roles and is specifically trained to use appropriate educational strategies and methods to facilitate the development of policies, procedures, interventions, and systems conducive to the health of individuals, groups and communities. 1

COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES2

Seven Areas of Responsibility:

Area I: Assess Needs, Assets and Capacity for Health Education Area II: Plan Health Education Area III: Implement Health Education Area IV: Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education

Area V: Administer and Manage Health Education Area VI: Serve as a Health Education Resource Person Area VII: Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

The process of identifying a community’s most pressing health issues, assets, and shortcomings.

There are several methods used to complete needs assessment such as surveys, interviews and the review of existing data.

WINDSHIELD TOURS

In addition to the above, health educators often conduct windshield tours to collect data for needs assessment.

A windshield tour is simply driving around town in a carto see what is going on.

Health educators record observations, talk to people, take pictures, and even record video.

The data from this process is then analyzed and synthesized into a written document.

GOOGLE MAPS & GOOGLE EARTH

Google Maps-Free web mapping service application and technology provided by Google3

Google Earth-a virtual globe, map and geographic information program4

   

The following virtual windshield tour was created for a teen pregnancy needs assessment in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Create a Google Map and add your data...

Open it in Google Earth and add layers…

Collect data…

CLASSROOM USE

This activity is part of the final project for the Community Health Needs Assessment, Program Planning, and Evaluation Course

Students gain skills in data collection and analysis, prioritizing health issues, and technology integration

Students can also conduct tours completely online. For example students in Greenville, NC can analyze data from Milwaukee or South Africa and study about urban health or international health respectively

Students are introduced to health geography, epidemiology, environmental health, and international health

NEXT STEPS

Explore other online mapping tools Open Street Maps Planet Eye Map 24

  Handheld devices to collect data in the field

Smartphones Tablets, Iphones, & Ipads GPS

Incorporate online epidemiological data sources Bing health maps CDC.gov WHO.gov

CONDUCTING WINDSHIELD TOURS USING GOOGLE MAPS AND GOOGLE EARTH

In order to conduct a windshield tour using Google Maps and Google Earth, a health educator would follow the following steps:

1)Choose a community and define your boundaries- city, county…

1)Gather data collection tools like a map, GPS, paper, pens, camera, recorder, windshield tour resource checklist

2)With driving directions, map/GPS, and checklist in hand, drive to your community site

3)Take notes about what you see, hear, and feel. Take pictures, video, and talk to people

4)Within 24 hours discuss your observations with your team, upload or import pertinent data onto a Google map

1)Open your Google Map in Google Earth and analyze the social, physical, environmental, or any other aspect of the community