Create Your Own Google Map

Google Map has changed the way we navigate the world, explore places we can't even fly over or walk in to, and share places we want others to go to. It's easy to create your own map by dropping pins at points of interest, then adding text, photos or videos to those locations. Descriptions appear in the side panel, and viewers can click on them to be taken to that spot on the map.

The above video take you through the basics of creating a map. Your map has the features of any Google map - street or terrain view, the ability to turn on and view photos others have placed in the area, and zooming in and out. Here are some examples of how easy it is to make your map interesting. To add media you must first upload the media to a website and have the URL for each item available.

To add a photo click the Rich Text button, then the photo icon. Enter the URL of the photo.
For a video watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJU6e-mBhBg
To change the pin, drop a pin, double-click it then click the blue Pin icon in the upper right corner of the window. Click another pin to choose it or click Add an Icon link and enter the URL of the new icon.

This map is a bare bones start. Descriptions need to be filled in and images added. Then,if you activate Google Earth a viewer can explore your map from an aerial view with control of the angle of view and direction of "flight". The viewer has to download and install the free Google Earth app and plugin but then they're set. Here's a great article on using the features of Google Map. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/google-earth1.htm

How can you use this? Have learners identify a place of interest, visit it and take picture using the GPS feature on their cameras or phones. Then they can construct a tour of the area with annotations to make the trip real to the viewers. It's possible for a group to create a map together as well.
This is step 1 of this map - stay tuned to see how it develops!

Comments

E pule kakou . . .

Aloha all,
I was trying to think so hard of a "techie" tip and finally gave up. I even googled "tips and tricks" for various programs and then thought "I can't blog about something I don't actually use!" Then, as I was sitting in my Papa Makua class, doing all kinds of protocal and thought about how we keep looking for a short pule to do to open our meetings. I had `A`ali`i write a pule in Hawaiian. He was worried about the grammar and structure of it so I asked Kelly C. to kökua by editing and doing an audio recording so you can hear the pronunciation. Hope it's helpful :)

E ho`omalu käkou
E kö mäkou makua i loko o ka lani
Mahalo no nä pömaika`i a pau. Mahalo no ke ali`i lokomaika`i o Pauahi a me këia kula nei. E `olu`olu, e kia`i iä mäkou i ke alahele küpono me ka lökahi.
Ke nonoi ha`aha`a nei mäkou i ka inoa o Iesu Cristo
`Ämene

`Unuhi (translation):
Let us pray
Our Father in heaven
Thank you for all the many blessings. Thank you for the generous Pri…

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