Week 9: Maps and Mashups

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Welcome back from spring break. In the past couple of weeks, we focused on digital images and storytelling. This week, we are going to learn about mashing technologies together. One of the most popular K-12 applications of mashing is with map programs.

To learn more about what mashing is, read through the following resources:

1. 7 Things You Should Know About Mapping Mashups - (A nice concise overview)
   
2. The Horizon Report 2008 - Feel free to read the entire report, but the section on Mashing is on pages 20-22.
3. Dr. Mashup or, Why Educators Should Learn To Stop Worrying and Love the Remix - A more in-depth look at mashing and remixing.

To see some examples of Mashups, check out these resources:

1. Using Google Maps and Google Earth - Look at section titled "Google Mashups"
2. Map Mashing Classroom Applications - A wiki produced by people at MSU
   
3. Google Lit Trips - Also has some nice resources for how to create Lit Trips

Weekly Gallery Project:
Your task for this week is to create your own map mashup to represent content that you could share with students as part of a lesson. Here are the requirements for the project:

1. Your map must have at least 5 different placemarks on the map.
2. Each of the placemarks should contain text for your students to read to help them understand why the placemark is important. Envision that your students will be looking through the maps on their own, so the text should be elaborate enough to help students be self-sufficient.
   
3. At least three placemarks should contain embedded images within the placemarks. You can either use CC images or images that you have taken. If you use CC image, be sure to properly cite the images as well. Smaller images will work better for this exercise.
   
4. At least two of your placemarks should included hyperlinks to web pages that students can click on to help them learn more about the content introduced in the placemark.
5. If you really want to go all out, you can embed a YouTube video inside a placemark. You can count an embedded YouTube video in lieu of one of the images. Be sure to give credit for the video though.
   

To learn about placemarks, adding images, including hyperlinks, etc. draw on some of the learning new technology strategies we are working on. For example, you might search through Google Video, YouTube, or TeacherTube. You might look through the help resources or user guides that accompany the mapping program. Feel free to choose whatever mapping program meets the assignments needs. In the past, students have found Google Maps easy to use, and it provides a link so that you can also view your map in Google Earth.

Weekly Blog Post:
For your blog post this week,

1. Embed your map in your blog. You may need to tweak the zoom on the map and change the settings so that the map looks good in your blog.
2. In your post,
   
1. Identify what grade level and subject matter you might use this map for. ( A single sentence is fine)
   
2. Give us an overview of what you think the mashup could help students learn and how you might use this map with students (at least a paragraph)
3. Link to the permalink for your blog post in the Wiki Gallery under the "Mashup" column.

On a final note, I will be in NYC Monday and Tuesday, but will be back online on Wednesday. Best of luck. I look forward to seeing the maps you create.

Cheers,

Joe