On June 26, 2011, I presented GigaPan as part of a joint technology panel with the Excellence Through Classics Committee and the National Committee for Latin & Greek at the American Classical League Summer Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I enjoy sharing ideas using technology in the classroom especially with Classics teachers. Using GigaPan is great way to integrate technology and bring the study of the ancient past to life.
Conference attendees, learned how to explore panoramas using the gigapan.org website and the process of taking snapshots and leaving comments. The display of a large gigapan print of the Roman Forum generated lots of interest and allowed attendees to participate in dialogues throughout the conference. They were invited to attach sticky notes to the print in English or Latin, creating a truly interactive exhibit.
There were comments about objects in the panorama, observations about the weather, plant life and architecture. There was even a recommendation on a place to eat near the Forum. Above an image of young girl, someone wrote, “Ecce! In pictura est puella.” (Look! In the picture is a girl.) Attendees would read the post and laugh. They recognized the famous first line in Ecce Romani – a Latin textbook. Notes also included drawings; someone had “rebuilt” the deteriorated sculptural form on the top of a column to restore Rome to all its glory.
GigaPan.org is a wonderful resource for teachers of all disciplines!
Special thanks to the Committee on Latin in Elementary Schools of the National Committee for Latin & Greek, Frank Neuperger, photographer, and the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University - with special thanks to Clara Phillips.
This is an animoto with images, audio and video clips from the event:
Zee Ann Poerio, Teacher-St. Louise de Marillac School
Chair for the Committee on Latin in Elementary Schools, National Committee for Latin & Greek