As I have learnt just through the first few weeks of undertaking this Digital Pedagogies course, Google provides endless opportunities to apply in the classroom. This is also the case for Google maps which offers opportunities that can change learning from a map forever. Google claims that the Google Maps Application will help students to visualise and understand the world around them through providing teachers and students with resources to explore, create and collaborate with mapping tools. Through my exploration of using Google 'My Maps', I have not found any costs so far which makes it incredibly affordable and accessible in a classroom with students with BYOD or even their own mobile devices. There is also already access to some maps that have been created already along with information.
It may seem that the My Maps technology can be quite basic compared to some of the amazing digital tools we have learnt about this week. However, it opens up a whole new world of what teachers can use it for, not only for a lesson plan of learning places in Geography, but other lessons such as a culinary tour, a history tour or maths lesson on distance and scale. To begin, you start by choosing to create a new map which takes you to a map of the world which you can choose what base it will be as pictured below.
You than have the option to label the map you are creating and create just one layer or different layers. These can also be layered. From here, you have the option to add in pins. This can be done either by searching in the search bar to get the exact location, scrolling and zooming around the screen or by creating your own points. On the point that you add, you can add a variety of images, information, google addresses and contact details, changing the pin colour as well as directions to the location. There are also options below the toolbar that allow you to create lines between your locations like a trail, directions as well as measuring distances and areas of certain points. Google My Maps also provides you with the opportunity to print and copy your map as well as export it and embed it into other sites.
In regards to multi-authoring, there is an owner who has created the map with their Google Account, however depending on the privacy settings that have been set will depend on whether others can edit the details on it. The privacy settings go along with all of Google's privacy settings. This can be altered for anyone to be able to view and edit it, only those with the link to do so, or only Specific people that have been given access.
Customising Google My Maps has very limited options in terms of the appearance and colour of the map. Users do have the option of changing the base layer, which means the appearance of the whole map such as to a satellite view or terrain, etc. Users also have the option to change the colour of their pins which can be quite useful perhaps with colour coding for a certain task. It is also possible to change the image of the pin to something it may be related too such as food, parking, sports, animals, etc, I found a whole heap of options which could be incorporated effectively. Although the physical appearance of this digital tool may seem very basic, the map has endless reign of what can be added to it from accurate land marks to creating your own, adding images, information, web links and other options to suit the needs of the lesson. It is how you create it and what you choose to do with the My Map which becomes the creative customising of the tool.
I found the Google My Maps application quite easy to navigate and use but I would put this down to my experience of using Google Maps. (I am someone that has to Google where something is located right down to the latitude and longitude as I have to know what actor is in a movie while I am watching it). However, with a quick little tutorial at the start of a lesson with how to use Google Maps if students are unsure, this would help with their navigation on My Maps. When they do come to using My Maps it would not hurt for students to be given some time to experiment and play with the functions and options of using it. I believe it will not take long for them to pick it up. Please follow this link to the My Map that I created based on Trip Advisor's Top 10 Restaurants on the Sunshine Coast for April 2019.
The privacy and safety of students is the most important priority to make sure they are being safe and respectful online, not sharing personal details such as their address on the Map. Linking to this it is also important to check the setting of students My Maps to ensure that they are on the right setting, i.e. access with link only and can only view it. Using this digital tool, their are not to many protocols to consider however in legal terms, students need to abide by Googles legal terms and in this case they need to be mindful of where their images come from, use appropriate images and content as well as report anything that is inappropriate that they may come across. Ethically, it is important that students recognise the ownership of content that is not theirs and are also mindful of copyright issues.
SAMR Model
Substitution: Students given Microsoft Word Document containing a map to label icons of local restaurants to remember as well as provide a description of what type of food is served there.
Augmentation: Students then given task to understand where to find these restaurants on Google Maps and add the address and contact number to their word document.
Modification: Students are then required to apply what they learnt from navigating through Google Maps to create a Google My Maps. This will require them to analyse the information they found to add it to their maps as well as other things such as colour coding for similar cuisines as well as the addition of relevant icons. This will also require them to add in related images through their Google Drive.
Redefinition: Many of the students have an exchange student from Japan coming to stay with them the following week. Students are to plan out a weekend of sight-seeing, things to do and eating. They are required to evaluate their plan and use it to create a new My Map by adding in relevant icons, images, colours etc., as well as creating a route plan for the order they will do things in. This will need to include distances between each place and a time schedule. Students are required to share this plan with their exchange student as an idea for what they might do over the weekend they are together. This will need to be done by sharing and providing the My Maps link through email. Privacy and security settings will need to be checked here.
The above image is an example of a trail that has been created using Google My Maps.
The opportunities that Google My Maps provides is incredible for many curriculum areas. It can be incorporated in a variety of ways of learning and can help to expand students beyond just looking at a map, but also connecting through the world virtually, assisting them to become a global citizen.
Customising Google My Maps has very limited options in terms of the appearance and colour of the map. Users do have the option of changing the base layer, which means the appearance of the whole map such as to a satellite view or terrain, etc. Users also have the option to change the colour of their pins which can be quite useful perhaps with colour coding for a certain task. It is also possible to change the image of the pin to something it may be related too such as food, parking, sports, animals, etc, I found a whole heap of options which could be incorporated effectively. Although the physical appearance of this digital tool may seem very basic, the map has endless reign of what can be added to it from accurate land marks to creating your own, adding images, information, web links and other options to suit the needs of the lesson. It is how you create it and what you choose to do with the My Map which becomes the creative customising of the tool.
I found the Google My Maps application quite easy to navigate and use but I would put this down to my experience of using Google Maps. (I am someone that has to Google where something is located right down to the latitude and longitude as I have to know what actor is in a movie while I am watching it). However, with a quick little tutorial at the start of a lesson with how to use Google Maps if students are unsure, this would help with their navigation on My Maps. When they do come to using My Maps it would not hurt for students to be given some time to experiment and play with the functions and options of using it. I believe it will not take long for them to pick it up. Please follow this link to the My Map that I created based on Trip Advisor's Top 10 Restaurants on the Sunshine Coast for April 2019.
The privacy and safety of students is the most important priority to make sure they are being safe and respectful online, not sharing personal details such as their address on the Map. Linking to this it is also important to check the setting of students My Maps to ensure that they are on the right setting, i.e. access with link only and can only view it. Using this digital tool, their are not to many protocols to consider however in legal terms, students need to abide by Googles legal terms and in this case they need to be mindful of where their images come from, use appropriate images and content as well as report anything that is inappropriate that they may come across. Ethically, it is important that students recognise the ownership of content that is not theirs and are also mindful of copyright issues.
SAMR Model
Substitution: Students given Microsoft Word Document containing a map to label icons of local restaurants to remember as well as provide a description of what type of food is served there.
Augmentation: Students then given task to understand where to find these restaurants on Google Maps and add the address and contact number to their word document.
Modification: Students are then required to apply what they learnt from navigating through Google Maps to create a Google My Maps. This will require them to analyse the information they found to add it to their maps as well as other things such as colour coding for similar cuisines as well as the addition of relevant icons. This will also require them to add in related images through their Google Drive.
Redefinition: Many of the students have an exchange student from Japan coming to stay with them the following week. Students are to plan out a weekend of sight-seeing, things to do and eating. They are required to evaluate their plan and use it to create a new My Map by adding in relevant icons, images, colours etc., as well as creating a route plan for the order they will do things in. This will need to include distances between each place and a time schedule. Students are required to share this plan with their exchange student as an idea for what they might do over the weekend they are together. This will need to be done by sharing and providing the My Maps link through email. Privacy and security settings will need to be checked here.
The above image is an example of a trail that has been created using Google My Maps.
The opportunities that Google My Maps provides is incredible for many curriculum areas. It can be incorporated in a variety of ways of learning and can help to expand students beyond just looking at a map, but also connecting through the world virtually, assisting them to become a global citizen.
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