Google Maps
Google Maps Tech Tutorial
Summary of the Tool
Google Maps is a tool that can be used online (maps.google.com) or as an iOS App. It’s primary function is for finding directions and navigation, but its uses are much more involved. Users can toggle between the map view and Google Earth view. Users can also use mark-up tools to identify placemarks with pushpins and icons, create lines to measure distance and perimeter as well as outline specific areas of focus. Because this is a Google product, it is connected to the user’s primary Google account, which allows for creation of customized maps, saving to the cloud and collaboration and sharing with and among other Google users.
Pedagogical Uses
There are myriad uses for Google Maps in the classroom. Primarily, collaboration and communication are the key overarching skills that will be practiced. Google Maps can be tailored to any discipline. In science, students can map superfund sites in their home state or different watershed areas. In Social Studies, students can create maps detailing topics like current events, culture studies or geographical features. In Language Arts, lit trips can be created that document places visited in a novel. Art students can map birthplaces of artists or famous museums. Math students can use the tools for measurement on a variety of scales for real-world problem solving.
In the screencast below, you will see Google Maps in use to label and describe Battles of the Revolutionary War.
How to do it
1. Go to maps.google.com
2. If you are not logged in to Google, do so now.
3. On the bottom right of the Google Maps Window, click on the Settings cog and choose ‘My Places’.
4. Click on the ‘Create’ button on the left side of the new window.
5. Click the blue ‘Create a New Map’ Button.
6. Give your map a good name! Now you may begin adding placemarks.
7. Go to the spot you want to placemark. Consider zooming in. A green placemark will appear at your destination.
8. Right click or Command-Click on the green placemark and choose ‘Add to Map’.
9. To edit the placemark, click on it and choose the pencil icon. In this window, you may change the name of the placemark, add a description, change the placemark icon and click on the camera to add an image.
Limitations
In order to save maps, learners must have a Google Account. It can be difficult to navigate through layers of a map and/or delete unwanted components. Remember, Command-Click will be very helpful! Also, while the learner can create maps on a desktop computer with internet access, maps can only be accessed, and not modified, on a device like an iPhone or iPad.
Conclusion
Google Maps can be an invaluable tool for educators and learners alike. This application can be used to support learning, enhance curricular materials, and enable discovery along multiple academic lines. Many of my students have even used it for persuasive purposes to encourage their families to go on a specific vacation! My recommendation is to play with Google Maps and encourage your learning community to do so, as well!
Here is a link to the lesson plan illustrated in the screencast above: Mapping Battles of the Revolutionary War.
Revision History/Audit Trail
Added 8/4/2014 3:15 PM
Contact: Tina Hurlbert (@TechTina or thurlbert01@gmail.com)
Changes, audits, revisions, and requested changes indicated by date, time, and author. Please include contact info (Twitter, or email address as hyperlink). If a change is needed, please indicate your change in this section and change the page. If you add changes, please be sure to document them here. Only changes should be indicated here....potential changes or questions should be included as comments below.