GeoGuessr is an online geographic discovery game. It provides a 360 degree visual of a random location, then asks students to guess where they are in the world. Students drop a pin on a world map where they think the visual is, and points are awarded based on the proximity of the guess.
Structure and features
The GeoGuessr tool allows students to evaluate a landscape, looking for familiar landmarks, topography, vegetation, human infrastructure or hints regarding country. This allows them to have an educated guess using geographical principles and knowledge.
Random images for non-members are sourced from Mapillary and paying members images are sourced from Google Street View. GeoGuessr is also available as a free app.
This resource provides:
- an interesting and entertaining way to learn geography
- encourages students to use observation and analytical skills to make assumptions
- develops field work skills
- randomises locations allowing students to have an individual example and experience.
For teachers
GeoGuessr is an interesting and entertaining geography tool that allows students to apply their observational skills to demonstrate an understanding of geographical ideas. Teachers can establish guidelines and criteria for assessing a landscape and these guidelines can be used to identify:
- topography
- flora
- landmarks
- climatic
- administrative (signage, traffic/road rule).
An investigation could also be based on ideas like resources that can be observed. Teachers can explicitly teach fieldwork skills by letting students identify recordable information and identify its importance to fieldwork. This game allows students to independently make observations, possibly taking screenshots and defending interpretations and inferences. Students could reflect on their results, presenting ideas as to why they did so well or so badly in estimating location.
