Creating rich resources with free tools: Customised Google Maps for Learning & Teaching. Presented at the Durham Blackboard Users Conference, January 2013.

1. Creating rich resources with free
tools: Customised Google Maps
for Learning & Teaching
Matt Cornock

2. 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

3. Why use mobile maps?
• Smartphone ownership:
66% (2011), 78% (2012)
• Provides immediate contextual information
• Time machine in your pocket
flickr.com/dm-set/3605150762/

4. Case Study: Crime Prevention Walk
Dr Lisa O’Malley and Sharon Grace

5. Case Study: Housing Policy Field Trip
Dr Stuart Lowe

6. An unfortunate truth
• Crime Prevention Case Study
– Quick in-class straw poll
0
20
40
60
80
100
Printed it off Used the mobile map

7. 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

8. Task review
• What problems are we experiencing?
– Staff
– Students
• What learning contexts might we use maps?

9. 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

10. Beyond the basics: API

11. Beyond the basics: API

12. Beyond the basics: API

13. 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