A c t i o n W o r k b o o k

Module 1: Take Them There PART 1: The Power of Maps in the Classroom This module -- “Take Them There” -- is all about helping students feel connected to a place in the world where they may never visit. There’s a good chance you’ve visited somewhere and felt TOTALLY differently about it after you were there. Places in the world tie so well into all sorts of classes, regardless of your grade level or content area.

BRAINSTORM: How does (or could!) what you teach connect with locations around the world? What specific locations tie into your content well -- or could connect to it?

Tech to Learn Online Course by Ditch That Textbook / Module 1: Take Them There PART 2: Go There with Maps Street View

Google Maps Street View lets you feel like you’re actually at a location with its panoramic views and exploration ability. It’s an easy, quick win because you (and your students!) can use it without logging in to anything. You can project it on a screen or students can use it on their own devices.

ACTIVITY: Using a computer or a laptop, go to maps.google.com. Find the little yellow “peg man” in the bottom right corner. Drag him on the screen and explore! Go check out several spots to try it out.

Possible places to explore: ● Your house ● Your childhood neighborhood ● Around your school ● Favorite vacation locations ● A “bucket list” vacation spot ● Places your students study ● Buildings (you can explore inside some of them, too!)

Tech to Learn Online Course by Ditch That Textbook / Module 1: Take Them There PART 2: Go There with Google Maps Street View

BRAINSTORM: Where are several locations your students could visit with Google Maps Street View? Where are places you could show them with Street View on the screen in front of your room?

Tech to Learn Online Course by Ditch That Textbook / Module 1: Take Them There PART 3: Spectacular Places with Treks Google Maps Treks are created with the same technology that created Street View. However, Google has packaged it together in a fun, interactive presentation. It feels like we’re taking a virtual tour of the locations they’ve created Google Maps Treks from! ACTIVITY: Do an internet search for “google maps treks” and click the first result. Click into one of the Treks and explore it. Then, look at the places covered by Google Maps Treks and brainstorm how they might fit in what you teach. ● Amazon Basin, Brazil ● Iqaluit, Canada ● Angkor Wat, Cambodia ● Kennedy Space Center, USA ● Burj Khalifa, UAE ● Miniatur Wunderland, ● Churchill, Canada ● Mont Blanc, France ● Colorado River, USA ● Mt. Fuji, Japan ● Eiffel Tower, France ● Petra, Jordan ● El Capitan, Yosemite, USA ● Pyramids of Giza, Egypt ● Everest Base Camp, Nepal ● Samburu National Reserve, Kenya ● Galápagos Islands, Ecuador ● Taj Mahal, India ● Gombe National Park, Tanzania ● The Khumbu, Nepal ● Grand Canyon, USA ● , ● Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Tech to Learn Online Course by Ditch That Textbook / Module 1: Take Them There PART 4: Custom Maps with Google MyMaps

Google MyMaps lets you (or your students!) create a custom, interactive map. You can drop pins on it and add lots of information to each pin. Pins can be grouped in layers. Students can all collaboratively work together on a single MyMap. They can be shared and even embedded in a website.

ACTIVITY: Create a new MyMap by going to google.com/mymaps and clicking on “Create a New Map”. ● Click the pin button in the toolbar at the top of the screen. (It looks like the icon below on this page.) Then click on the map to drop a pin there. ● OR, use the search bar at the top to search for locations. When you find one, click “+ Add to map” on the window that pops up. ● Drop pins on significant locations in your life, and in the text area, describe why they’re significant. (You may need to click the pencil icon to add text.) ● Extra credit: Add images (camera icon)!

Tech to Learn Online Course by Ditch That Textbook / Module 1: Take Them There PART 5: Other Tools to Take Students There

ACTIVITY: Try out one or two (or all!) of these ideas for interacting with maps ...

Google Cardboard Google Earth GeoGuessr If you have a VR Go to Go to viewer, use the google.com/earth geoguessr.com and Street View app on and fly around the play! See if you can your phone to see world to explore it! guess where you’ve maps in 3D. been dropped!

Pursued Smarty Pins Search for “pursued Search for “smarty google maps” and pins” and play. It’s click the first result. a fun trivia game Play the game. It’s where the answers fun! are map locations!

Tech to Learn Online Course by Ditch That Textbook / Module 1: Take Them There What’s next?

What do you need to do NEXT to start using what you’ve learned?

What’s a potential struggle you need to think through?

What potential do you see for this idea to be GREAT?

Tech to Learn Online Course by Ditch That Textbook / Module 1: Take Them There