Exploration Exercise - Geographic Mapping

Now it is time to explore the mapping Web 2.0 tools that allow you to personalize and/or mark vaiours points on the globe with multimedia content.  Two that we are going to explore are Google Earth and Community Walk (a more simplified application of the mapping concept).  Google Earth is powerful and complex; however, it commands our attention and future self-directed investigation.  NOTE:  Everytime you play around with it, you will discover something new - you can count on that!  :-) 

Community Walk allows you to create interactive maps that interfaces with Google maps, add comments, and images. Community Walk features the ability to show photos, add comments, display interactive media, hide and show categories of locations, explore hundreds of fantastic maps of anything and everything, and so much more, The map backdrop is Google Maps with the ability to add multimedia (images, links to websites, TeacherTube, etc.)  See an example of the geo-literacy project involving thrid graders who became historians, writers, and videographers as they explored the geography and geolog of their community.


Also, take a look at a short Community Walk of of Baltimore County Public School Buildings - A Historical Walk .  Explore the many examples at the Community Walk website; a good place to start is the "featured" map.

With Google Earth, your computer becomes a window to anywhere on the planet, allowing you to view high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery, elevation terrain, road and street labels, business listings, and more.  Google Earth allows you add your own content and images to points of interest or explore content created by persons who have a professional account (cost involved here).  Google Lit Trips and Google Earth Outreach SHOWCASE that illustrate the scope of what one can do with Google Earth.  With the free Google Earth, your content and images are saved in your Goggle Earth My Places for your own personal viewing.  

In order to use Google Earth, you must first install the application on your computer.  Go to This  ftp://csc-ftp01.bcps.org/GoogleEarthWin.exe to download the "free" version. After you have installed Google Earth on your computer, familarize yourself with the Google Earth by reading the very comprehensive user's guide available at http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/.  You might want to print it for easy reference while exploring Google Earth features.  Also, there are many tutorials; however, start with Navigating the Earth and Searching for locations and businesses.   Check out the other tutorials and YouTube video guides available at http://earth.google.com/intl/en/userguide/v4/tutorials/index.html or from the pull down HELP menu.  

Application Exercise

If you chose Community Walk, get an idea as to what is possible for your to create, click the icon "tutorials" to expand your understanding of how to create your own map.  Some possibilities for your to consider are a map with pictures of a vacation, a literacy tour based on a book, historical map of your community, etc.  Begin creating your map by clicking the icon "create a map." 

If you chose Google Earth, begin thinking about how to use Google Earth in education by viewing a recorded ISTE webinar Google Earth Lessons in the Classroom.  It is a 50 minute webinar, so get comfortable and learn about the amazing ways it is used in the classroom.  To access the recorded webinar click this link http://iste.acrobat.com/p33352044/ The webinar is presented by Dr. Alice Christie. In addition, the resources she mentions in this webinar are listed below:

• Dr. Alice Christie’s Using Google Earth in Education: http://www.west.asu.edu/achristie/gearth/
• How Stuff Works: Google Earth: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/google-earth.htm/printable
• Juicy Geography: Google Earth Lessons: http://www.juicygeography.co.uk/googleearth.htm
• Discovery Channel: Google Earth: http://www.discovery.com/googleearth/
• Google Earth Lessons: An Educational Resource for Teachers: http://www.gelessons.com/
• What on Earth?: http://www.webuser.co.uk/specials/73813.html
• ALI: The World in My Back Yard:  http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/print.php?itemID=12071
• Assorted Stuff for EdTech: Google Earth: http://www.assortedstuff.com/stuff/?p=85
• The Strangest Sights in Google Earth: http://me-king.110mb.com/?p=10
• Find By Click: http://www.findbyclick.com/
• Google Earth Community: http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php/Cat/0
• Official Google Blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/09/illuminated-
  continent.html
• The Google Earth Blog: http://gearthblog.com/index.html
• Google Sightseeing Blog: http://googlesightseeing.com/
• Using Google Earth: Learn tricks and tips to explore your world more effectively in Google Earth: http://googleearthuser.blogspot.com/

Extension Exercise - Drawing, Mapping, and Charting Tools
Illustrate your map with more images and links to websites that provide more information about the point of interest. Email your finished map to yourself and others.  Share your map by linking to it from this wiki in the folder for this week's activity.  To share Google Earth content you created, you will need to join the Google Earth Community at http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/newuser.php?Cat=0

Reflection Exercise - Drawing, Mapping, and Charting Tools

1.      Think about how you might use Community Walk or Google Earth to enhance student learning. Click on the “Edit” tab again and select the “Bullets” icon.  Click underneath the table.  Brainstorm 5 to 10 ways that you might be able to use these resources immediately.  Remember to click “Save.”

2.      Let your thoughts simmer for a day or two.  Log back into our wiki and scroll down to the “Week 7” folder.

3.      Click on the pages your fellow travelers have created and look at their ideas.  If there are any that you can use, add them to your list by clicking the “Back” button until you are back to your page, selecting the “Edit” tab, and adding the ideas you have gathered.

4.      Next, think about how and why using Community Walk or Google Earth will enhance student learning.  Write a short (two to three paragraph) reflection to share your thoughts with your colleagues. 

Exploration Exercise - Mind Mapping and Drawing
Below are a few outstanding Web 2.0 tools for visualization, brainstorming, organizing, and communication of ideas.  Tour each of the sites by clicking the direct link to examples and/or tutorials.
 

• DabbleBoard is an online whiteboard.  View the video tour and check out the 10 top reasons for its use. 
   
• Webspiration -  is the beta online version from the same developers of Inspiration and Kidspiration.  It's value added is the collaborative sharing anytime, anywhere feature.  Right now, Webspiration is free to use during the Public Beta period.  To date there is no fixed end time for the beta period, but at some point Webspiration will be a subscription service.  Click this link for an introduction to Webspiration.  After you have created your account, go to the Sample Gallery to view ways in which others have used Webspiration. Browse the  Webspiration Getting Started Guide for a more information. 
   
• MindMeister - create, manage, share mind maps online - access them anytime,from anywhere and engage in real-time collaboration with others. Read about and then browse examples for ideas. Click the video tutorial/overview for more information. Check out MindMeister map on Online Help.
   
• Wordle - toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you enter.  See example below:
     Hint:  The size of the words is based on the frequency of words you enter, e.g., if you want "information literacy" to be larger, type it in 3 or more times.  Also, you can enter a URL and Wordle will create a word cloud of the the website text.  See examples in the Gallery.  Caution: I found a few of the cloud maps to have content that might be inappropriate for K12; however, if you use this tool for your own purposes or with a class in a guided learning experience, you should not experience any issue.  It is the "search" function where a student may type in an inappropriate key word and find a word cloud on the topic.  Also check out several other word cloud generators; however, Wordle has more visual presentation  options -  TagCrowd and ToCloud http://tagcrowd.com/
   
• Thinkature - create shared visual workspace.  Play around with the workspace by moving images, drawings, and text on the home page whiteboard.  Once inside the workspace, you can communicate by chatting, drawing, creating cards, and adding content from around the Internet. It's all synchronous, too - no need to hit reload or get an editing lock. Once you've created an account, you'll be given a starter workspace that explains the basics of working with Thinkature.
   
• Gliffy - create flowcharts, floorplans, charts, diagrams and share these visualizations with others.  View  examples of Gliffy creations to see what is possible with this Web 2.0 tool.
   
• Create a Graph - Sometimes complicated information and data are difficult to understand and needs an illustration. Graphs or charts can help impress people by getting your point across quickly and visually.  This resource is made available from the National Center for Educational Statistics, US Department of Education. See examples of graphs (use the tab on the left of the Create a Graph image) and view the tutorial. 
   

• Try out each of the mind mapping tools using the same idea.  Select one that you think is easy to use and has all the assets needed to visualize your thinking.  Perhaps you might want to consider creating a mind map of the Web 2.0 tools you have used thus far.  Perhaps you have a great idea for use in your classroom or library media center right now! 

Extension Exercise - Mind Mapping and Drawing

• When you are satified with your creation, share it with a friend via email.
• Share it on your wiki page in the week 7 folder by using the embedding method, if available.
   

Reflection Exercise - Mind Mapping and Drawing

1. Think about how you might use mind maps and drawing tools to enhance student learning. Click on the “Edit” tab again and select the “Bullets” icon.  Click underneath the table.  Brainstorm 5 to 10 ways that you might be able to use mind maps and drawing tools immediately.  Remember to click “Save.”
   
2. Let your thoughts simmer for a day or two.  Log back into our wiki and scroll down to the “Week 7” folder.
   
3. Click on the pages your fellow travelers have created and look at their ideas.  If there are any that you can use, add them to your list by clicking the “Back” button until you are back to your page, selecting the “Edit” tab, and adding the ideas you have gathered.
   
4. Next, think about how and why using mind maps and drawing tools will enhance student learning.  Write a short (two to three paragraph) reflection to share your thoughts with your colleagues.