By the Fifth Dimension Kelly Ahlfeld Jen Bloomingdale Cindi Roberts

“ It’s your world…now you can map more of it!” Google Maps is online, viewed from a web browser; no software downloads needed Uses a Mercator projection; some coverage is limited You can see street maps, terrain maps, photos, descriptions of places, even a 360 degree driving street view You do not need a Google account to see maps and get driving directions; you do need an account to use any of the other very cool functions

Google Maps is online, viewed from a web browser; no software downloads needed

Uses a Mercator projection; some coverage is limited

You can see street maps, terrain maps, photos, descriptions of places, even a 360 degree driving street view

You do not need a Google account to see maps and get driving directions; you do need an account to use any of the other very cool functions

What can you do in Google Maps? Find a map for almost any address in the world Get driving (and sometimes walking and public transit) directions and change routes See a street view of many maps -- look for the yellow man See photos and descriptions of places on maps; add your own places and descriptions Take special tours or see favorite places of other people, including celebrities Use tools and overlays to enhance maps Make your own maps and share them

Find a map for almost any address in the world

Get driving (and sometimes walking and public transit) directions and change routes

See a street view of many maps -- look for the yellow man

See photos and descriptions of places on maps; add your own places and descriptions

Take special tours or see favorite places of other people, including celebrities

Use tools and overlays to enhance maps

Make your own maps and share them

What can you do in Google Maps? Use cool mashup applications to get more out of Google Maps Dig a hole through the earth Ground Zero Applet Safe2pee.org Webcams over the world Distance measuring tool

Use cool mashup applications to get more out of Google Maps

Dig a hole through the earth

Ground Zero Applet

Safe2pee.org

Webcams over the world

Distance measuring tool

What can you do in Google Maps in the classroom? Distance measuring tool and elevation tool Make a literary or historical trip map and add descriptions and photos Learn about latitude and longitude Take a virtual trip using photos and street view See where webcams are all over the world Add student photos to a street view of a place Add places that are not there yet and practice accuracy of map reading before they are added Opportunities for authentic sharing of information

Distance measuring tool and elevation tool

Make a literary or historical trip map and add descriptions and photos

Learn about latitude and longitude

Take a virtual trip using photos and street view

See where webcams are all over the world

Add student photos to a street view of a place

Add places that are not there yet and practice accuracy of map reading before they are added

Opportunities for authentic sharing of information

What are the pros and cons of Google Maps in the classroom? Pros Don’t need software Lots of cool tools and overlays once in my maps (use browse the directory feature) Can get to saved maps from any phone or computer Can sync with other devices and apps Cons Need Google account for cool tools Doesn’t have a safe search filter; can stumble on inappropriate content Can be inaccurate -- anyone can add places

Pros

Don’t need software

Lots of cool tools and overlays once in my maps (use browse the directory feature)

Can get to saved maps from any phone or computer

Can sync with other devices and apps

Cons

Need Google account for cool tools

Doesn’t have a safe search filter; can stumble on inappropriate content

Can be inaccurate -- anyone can add places

Resources for Learning More about Google Maps Google Maps introductory video Explore Google Maps collection of videos How to create a map Things you didn’t know you could do with Google Maps at About.com Great Dynamic Landscapes presentation on Google Earth and Google Maps that includes helpful ideas, links and crib sheets Google Map Maker -- for places not fully covered yet in Google Maps Wikipedia article on Google Maps Panoramio website for uploading photos to Google Maps

Google Maps introductory video

Explore Google Maps collection of videos

How to create a map

Things you didn’t know you could do with Google Maps at About.com

Great Dynamic Landscapes presentation on Google Earth and Google Maps that includes helpful ideas, links and crib sheets

Google Map Maker -- for places not fully covered yet in Google Maps

Wikipedia article on Google Maps

Panoramio website for uploading photos to Google Maps