This activity has been reviewed by 2 review processes (view details)

This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Reviewed Teaching Collection

This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/activity_review.html.
This activity has benefited from input from faculty educators beyond the author through a review and suggestion process. This review took place as a part of a faculty professional development workshop where groups of faculty reviewed each others' activities and offered feedback and ideas for improvements. To learn more about the process On the Cutting Edge uses for activity review, see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.

Initial Publication Date: August 17, 2010 | Reviewed: January 16, 2015 (see revision history: 2 events)

Creating Personalized Maps with Google My Maps

Carsten Braun, Westfield State College

Summary
This activity focuses on one of the many free web mapping applications available: Google My Maps. Here you will learn how to create your own personal map in Google My Maps, complete with linked photographs and YouTube videos.

Context

Type and level of course
This activity is suitable for an introductory Geosciences course, an introductory GIS course, or any other GIScience course that includes field mapping amd data collection. Google My Maps makes it easy to create personalized maps, linked to photographs and videos, for any location in the world.

Geoscience background assumed in this assignment
None.

GIS/remote sensing skills/background assumed in this assignment
None.

Software required for this assignment/activity:
Internet browser

Time required for students to complete the assignment:
Several hours

Goals

GIS/remote sensing techniques students learn in this assignment
Very limited - if anything: digitizing and map making.

Other content/concepts goals for this activity
The basic idea behind this activity is to show students a simple and easy way to expand the capabilities of Google Maps. These maps do not require the use of any specialized software and can be shared with anyone. Students are typically amazed how easy it is to create these maps and to link photographs and YouTube videos.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
None.

Description of the activity/assignment

This activity focuses on one of the many free web mapping applications available: Google My Maps. Here you will learn how to create your own personalized maps in Google My Maps, complete with linked photographs and YouTube videos. The applications are endless: from your local running/biking routes to a map of your field area, complete with sample locations, sample data, and photographs. You can easily share your map with the rest of the world!

Determining whether students have met the goals

Students email me the link to their map.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.

URLs and References

Download teaching materials and tips

Activity Description/Assignment: Creating Personalized Maps with Google My Maps (Microsoft Word 990kB Aug15 10)
Instructors Notes:
Solution Set: