Class 10: Exploring Place – MyMaps vs Google Earth

Explore place

Featured image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

“Places are locations having distinctive features that give them meaning and character that differs from other locations. Therefore, places are human creations, and people’s lives are grounded in particular places. We come from a place, we live in a place, and we preserve and exhibit fierce pride over places.” ~ National Geography Standard 4: Place

Today’s class will explore interactive images with Google MyMaps and Google Earth. Both apps provide tools for teachers and students to create and share interactive maps that tell a story of place.


Google MyMaps is a great tool for visualizing place with a variety of content and locational tools. You can easily add photos, video, text, routes and shapes. You can collaborate and share your maps via email. It can be easily embedded in WordPress. MyMaps gets saved in your Google Drive account for easy cataloging.

Sample MyMap Projects

MyMaps Tutorials


Google Earth is now a web-based tool that can easily create engaging stories maps that tell a story. With creation tools, you can draw on the map, add your photos and videos, customize your view, and share and collaborate with others. You cannot embed in WordPress. Use a screenshot of you map as a hyperlink from your WordPress post to your map project.

Sample Project: Jane Goodall story 

Google Earth Video Tutorials

Google Earth “How To” in text and images


Students will work in teams during class time to explore both apps, compare instructional use and brainstorm ideas for use. Specific task:

  1. Design a map using MyMaps.
  2. Create a project in Google Earth (begin by searching for place then add to a “new” project)
  3. Be prepared to share your impressions of both apps.
  4. Share a few ideas for classroom use (and which app you would choose).

Assignment 7: Design a Map-based Lesson | Map lesson 22-A10

Students will create a MyMap or Google Earth Project to support a learning activity. Be sure to have multiple locations and some text or visual content at each location. Try these prompts:

  • A community tour around school.
  • A real or fictional journey.
  • Explore the setting of a story.
  • Plot locations of habitats / geographic features.
  • Share an interactive map of a field trip with parents.
  • Make a map of authors you’ve read
  • Any other good idea

Your post should include:

  1. Title and featured image
  2. Target student group for lesson – grade level or subject
  3. Instructions for students
  4. Goal for lesson and how the map helps you meet the goal.
  5. MyMaps can be embedded in WordPress. Get an embed code and use with Custom HTML block Also include a direct link to your MyMap in your post.
  6. Google Earth cannot be embedded. But you can take a screenshot and add a hyperlink to your map project.

Resources

How to set sharing and get embed code from MyMaps


How to set Sharing in Google Earth – use a Screenshot of a portion of your map with a hyperlink in WordPress

Class 7: Exploring Place – MyMaps vs Google Earth

Explore place

Featured image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

“Places are locations having distinctive features that give them meaning and character that differs from other locations. Therefore, places are human creations, and people’s lives are grounded in particular places. We come from a place, we live in a place, and we preserve and exhibit fierce pride over places.” ~ National Geography Standard 4: Place

Today’s class will explore interactive images with Google MyMaps and Google Earth. Both apps provide tools for teachers and students to create and share interactive maps that tell a story of place.


Google MyMaps is a great tool for visualizing place with a variety of content and locational tools. You can easily add photos, video, text, routes and shapes. You can collaborate and share your maps via email. It can be easily embedded in WordPress. MyMaps gets saved in your Google Drive account for easy cataloging.

Sample MyMap Projects

MyMaps Tutorials


Google Earth is now a web-based tool that can easily create engaging stories maps that tell a story. With creation tools, you can draw on the map, add your photos and videos, customize your view, and share and collaborate with others. You cannot embed in WordPress. Use a screenshot of you map as a hyperlink from your WordPress post to your map project.

Sample Project: Jane Goodall story 

Google Earth Video Tutorials
Google Earth “How To” in text and images


Students will work in teams during class time to explore both apps, compare instructional use and brainstorm ideas for use.

Assignment 7: Design a Map-based Lesson | Map Lessons 21-A7

Students will one of the apps to design a map-based learning activity. Be sure to have multiple locations and some text or visual content at each location. Try these prompts:

  • A community tour around school.
  • A real or fictional journey.
  • Explore the setting of a story.
  • Plot locations of habitats / geographic features.
  • Share an interactive map of a field trip with parents.
  • Make a map of authors you’ve read
  • Any other good idea

Your post should include:

  1. Title and featured image
  2. Target student group for lesson – grade level or subject
  3. Instructions for students
  4. Goal for lesson and how the map helps you meet the goal.
  5. Be sure to include student feedback via correct answers / differentiated path. 
  6. MyMaps can be embedded in WordPress. Get an embed code and use with Custom HTML block Also include a direct link to your MyMap in your post.
  7. Google Earth cannot be embedded. So pick an area of your map to use for a screenshot and hyperlink.

Resources

How to set sharing and get embed code from MyMaps

How to set Sharing in Google Earth – use a Screenshot of a portion of your map with a hyperlink in WordPress

Class 6: Design Learning with Google Sites

Design Learning with Google sites

In today’s class we’ll learn how to create a website using Google sites. Sites are free and become part of your content stored in Google Drive. Sites can easily showcase content you have created using Google docs, slides, forms, MyMaps, Tour Creator or YouTube videos. Note: be sure to use the new (not classic) google sites.

We will begin by exploring some Hyperdoc lesson ideas (learning activities designed using the Google Suite.) Then we will have some basic instruction on creating a Google site and importing content from a variety of sources.

Assignment 5: Design a Google site | Sites 20-A6

Working solo or with a partner, design a learning activity that is supported by Google site. The Google site and WordPress elements

1. Google site – Start Page (Home Page)
Be sure to include:

  • Unique header image
  • Title of the lesson
  • Author (s) of the lesson
  • Target student group. Grade, course
  • Lesson context? – for example – introduction, pre-assessment, part of bigger unit, etc
  • The intent of the lesson –  for example – what would students know or be able to do? Or what feedback would teacher gain?

2. Google siteAt least 5 additional pages that provide resources and activities for the students
Be sure to include:

  • Unique header image for each of the pages
  • A pre or post assessment using a Google form
  • At least 4 content elements from the following Google suite: Slides, Forms, Docs, My Maps, Tour Creator, YouTube Videos (made by someone else)

3. A WordPress post that showcases the site.
Be sure to include:

  • Fun title and featured image
  • An image of the site that serves as hyperlink (see how to video below)
  • A brief write up about the site that includes – material from your start page list above

Resources

How to create an image link to your Google site and put it into WordPress

Get started with Google Sites


G Sites Learning Center


Class 4: Explore Place with Digital Maps

Explore Place with Digital Maps

“Places are locations having distinctive features that give them meaning and character that differs from other locations. Therefore, places are human creations, and people’s lives are grounded in particular places. We come from a place, we live in a place, and we preserve and exhibit fierce pride over places.” 

National Geography Standard 4: Place

In today’s class we will explore interactive images with Google Tour Creator and Google MyMaps. All apps provide tools for teachers and students to create and share interactive images that can contain additional multi-media content. 

Google Tour Creator (a Google project) uses Google’s vast StreetView library as well as additional surround images to to build immersive, 360° tours right from your computer. It can be easily embedded in WordPress or shared via email and social media. See sample tours here.

Google MyMaps is a great tool for visualizing place with a variety of content and locational tools. It can be easily embedded in WordPress or shared via email. When you open a MyMap on your smartphone you can used it as a navigational tool. MyMaps gets saved in your Google Drive account for easy cataloging.


Peter will offer a brief intro into each app and students will take an initial look at how to use each app. We will then generate some ideas for how each app could be used in the classroom.

ASSIGNMENT 4 | Google Map Lessons 20-A4

Students will one of the apps to design a sample interactive learning activity. Design a map representation of a place that can support a learning activity. Be sure to have multiple locations and some text or visual content at each location. Try these prompts:

  • A community tour around school.
  • A real or fictional journey.
  • Explore the setting of a story.
  • Create a “timeline” using map layers.
  • Plot locations of habitats / geographic features.
  • Share an interactive map of a field trip with parents.
  • Make a map of authors you’ve read

When your map is complete, embed it in a blog post that details what you hoped to convey in your map, and/or what you learned from the experience.  Video on how to use HTML snippets.

Ideas for using Tour Creator and a “how to” below
How to get Tour Creator embed code – Once you have published your tour. Click on “View Tour” then follow two steps below to get embed code
Once you have published your tour. Click on “View Tour” then follow two steps above to get embed code
MyMap “how to’s” below

Class 4: Explore Place with MyMaps

Explore Place with MyMaps

Places are locations having distinctive features that give them meaning and character that differs from other locations. Therefore, places are human creations, and people’s lives are grounded in particular places. We come from a place, we live in a place, and we preserve and exhibit fierce pride over places.

National Geography Standard 4: Place
Exploring Place with Google MyMaps

Google MyMaps is a great tool for visualizing place or creating tours. It works well with other Google tools and can be easily embedded in WordPress or shared via email. When you open a MyMap on your smartphone you can used it as a navigational tool. MyMaps gets saved in your Google Drive account for easy cataloging.

Class will begin with a MyMap demo and instruction on creating and sharing MyMaps.

Assignment 4: Design a MyMap | Completed Work 19-A4

Design a MyMap representation of a place that can support a learning activity. Try these prompts …

  • A community tour around school.
  • A real or fictional journey.
  • Explore the setting of a story.
  • Create a “timeline” using map layers.
  • Plot locations of habitats / geographic features.
  • Share an interactive map of a field trip with parents.
  • Make a map of authors you’ve read

Design your map using Google MyMaps and be sure to include at least 6 destinations. Attach about 10 content elements to the map – these could be photographs, videos or links to attractions. You may wish to design it as a walking or driving tour of your destinations. All content should be geotagged to the map at its actual location (or close to it).

When your map is complete, embed it in a blog post that details what you hoped to convey in your map, and/or what you learned from the experience.
(See video for embedding MyMap in WordPress below.)

What have I learned from this activity or how might I use MyMaps to support my instructional goals?

Scroll down for video instructions. Need ideas? Check out MyMaps Gallery and find more on MyMaps techniques.

MyMap How-to videos

Class 5: Explore Place with MyMaps

Explore Place with MyMaps

Places are locations having distinctive features that give them meaning and character that differs from other locations. Therefore, places are human creations, and people’s lives are grounded in particular places. We come from a place, we live in a place, and we preserve and exhibit fierce pride over places. National Geography Standard 4: Place

Exploring Place with Google MyMaps

Google MyMaps is a great tool for visualizing place or creating tours. It works well with other Google tools and can be easily embedded in WordPress or shared via email. When you open a MyMap on your SmartPhone you can used it as a navigational tool. MyMaps get saved in your Google Drive account for easy cataloging.

Class will begin with a MyMap demo and instruction on creating and sharing MyMaps.

Assignment 5: Due Tuesday Feb 20 | Completed Work

Design a MyMap representation of a place that can support a learning activity. Here’s some ideas:

  • A community tour around school.
  • A real or fictional journey.
  • Explore the setting of a story.
  • Create a “timeline” using map layers.
  • Plot locations of habitats / geographic features.
  • Share an interactive map of a field trip with parents.
  • Make a map of authors you’ve read

Design your map using Google MyMaps and be sure to include at least 6 destinations. Attach about 10 content elements to the map – these could be photographs, videos or links to attractions. You may wish to design it as a walking or driving tour of your destinations. All content should be geotagged to the map at its actual location (or close to it).

When your map is complete, embed it in a blog post that details what you hoped to convey in your map, and/or what you learned from the experience.

What have I learned from this activity or how might I use MyMaps to support my instructional goals?

Scroll down for video instructions. Need ideas? Check out MyMaps Gallery and find more on MyMaps techniques.

MyMap How-to videos

Image credit: @chrislawton with AdobeSpark Post

Class 12: Google Hackathon

In today’s class we will explore the ever-changing world of Google apps for education. I’ve created a Google site with a section devoted to Google tools – docs, forms, MyMaps, slides, sites and more. After spending some time exploring the resources, students will have the chance to create an activity using a Google app.

Assignments
  1. Use a Google tool to design an activity. Create a blog post that explains the intent of the activity and includes an embedded version of the Google tool.
  2. Prepare for using iBooks Author to showcase your critical thinking lesson. Check this page for getting your content ready for using iBooks Author

Image credit: Google photos icon link

Sample write up: Where I’m from

This  is a model blog post that demonstrates a write up for the Blended / Flipped Lesson assignment. Bold face is your assignment. Followed by how I would have written it up.

This write up is based on a lesson I used at the beginning of my Alaskan History and Culture course in the MAT program at the University of Alaska SE in summer 2016. See my assignments here:  Where I’m From and Google MyMaps lesson: Place

Here’s the work done by Jimmy Andrew – one of my students from a Yup’ik village of 300 people – Kwigillingok Alaska.

Learning objective – content and or skills students will know or be able to do by end of the lesson.

This was the second class of course and it served multiple objectives:

  1. My primary objective was to introduce the idea of place-based education with a poem and personal reflection on a place they were already familiar with. (later they would learn about another place – Alaska)
  2. I wanted to give the students a relatively simple tech-based assignment (Using HaikuDeck and creating a WordPress post) to build confidence for more elaborate tech assignments later in the course
  3. I need to free up class time so that students could get individually logged into their new WordPress accounts

Digital resource(s) you’ll use for flipped / blended elements.
Note: it’s not necessary to develop the digital elements – you can just describe them.

  1. I designed and posted the lesson to our WordPress blog so that everyone had access to assignment and resources.
  2. I made a few how-to videos describing how to create a Haiku Deck account, create a presentation, and embed it in Word Press.
  3. I made few how-to videos on using Google MyMaps
  4. I reused a collection of how-to videos that I had created for how to use WordPress

Active learning strategies employed with freed up class time.

Students used the time to read the poem for inspiration and get to work designing their own personal “Where I’m From.” Others elected to try the second design option using Google MyMaps using a lesson called Place. While the Haiku Deck approach was more visual poetry, MyMap used geographic tools and a spacial approach to design a Google map tour. Once I was done meeting with individual students to create their WordPress accounts, I was free to move around getting to know students better and assisting them on specific questions.

How the digital resource integrates into other instructional elements of lesson – what’s the flow of the lesson?

The digital content was created and posted to the web in advance. At the end of the previous class I asked students to read both lesson options (HaikuDeck  and MyMaps) in advance and think which lesson they want to try and how they will respond. The day of the class, most of our 3-hour session was spent with students working with HaikuDeck or MyMap. Then they began turning their work into their first blog post. Many students were excited to “show off”  their creations with one another.

Benefit for student content mastery, collaboration or learning workflow – Why is it worth it flip / blend some of the content.

Using these digital resources enabled students to begin the course with an easy “tech skills win.” Every student was successful in completing the assignment and posting it on WordPress. I was able to re-use my WordPress how-to videos originally made for another course. Along with the how-tos for HaikuDeck and MyMaps, I was freed up to handle the management of new WordPress accounts and spend some one-on-one time with all my new students.