Creating rich resources with free tools: Customised Google Maps

for Learning & Teaching

Matt Cornock

Those lurking at the back: Please come join me in the first few rows

Why use maps?

• Connect the subject to the physical world– Where people live

• Exploratory learning– Self-directed, draw own conclusions

• Conceptually ‘easier’ to digest– Complex relationships between the

environment, policy and impact

Why use mobile maps?

• Smartphone ownership:66% (2011), 78% (2012)

• Provides immediate contextual information• Time machine in your pocket

flickr.com/dm-set/3605150762/

Case Study: Crime Prevention WalkDr Lisa O’Malley and Sharon Grace

Case Study: Housing Policy Field TripDr Stuart Lowe

An unfortunate truth

• Crime Prevention Case Study– Quick in-class straw poll

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Printed it off Used the mobile map

Your task• Create a walking tour / pub crawl map of Durham

(or another city of your choice)– Include photos and at least one video(!)

• Resources:– Photos: http://bit.ly/durbbu-mc-a – Example maps for editing:

• http://bit.ly/durbbu-mc-d or http://bit.ly/durbbu-mc-e

• Suggestion: team up with different devices• Tweet a link and view others #durbbu #maps• Discussion points:

– potential learning contexts – identify user problems

Task review

• What problems are we experiencing?– Staff– Students

• What learning contexts might we use maps?

Beyond the basics: API

• In-class use and VLE embedding– Layering, controls– Hi-res photos and resources– Secure

• Mash-ups– Auto-feeding data into a map

Beyond the basics: API

Beyond the basics: API

Beyond the basics: API

Summary

• Greater understanding of the relationship between a topic and its environment

• Dynamic, adaptable, historical• Collaborative, teaching aid• Creation: device dependent• Extension: API• Rich learning resource, with little cost