More+Stuff

= Google Maps = Summary using Google Maps: **http://tinyurl.com/2cs2oge**

Google Maps allow students and teachers to create and personalize maps. Basic functions include adding multiple placemarks, and descriptive text to a map. Images/photographs can be added to any map, but the photos must be online (Flickr). Students may place hyperlinks in the descriptive text boxes to link the map to additional information/web sites if so desired. My Map allows for quick and easy access to planning and instructional resources to support field trip planning. Be sure to click on my orange pushpins!

In the following map, the creator has marked the locations of tornadoes crossing into Tennessee in February, 2008. This type of map might be created by students studying the Weather.

In the following map, the creator has marked the locations of interviews conducted along Route 66 with information about those interviewed and hyperlinks to the full interviews. This type of map might be created by students in English/Language Arts studying different Authors.

More examples... English/Language Arts- Catcher in the Rye Edgar Poe Social Studies- African American Inventors Science- Landforms __ Go to [], sign into your Google account where prompted. If you have not previously created a Google account, click "Create an account now." Click the "My Maps" tab and then click "Create new map." You may find this [|Google Maps User Guide] useful as you begin. Here is a tutorial I created: media type="custom" key="6547853" You may want to view this Google Map tutorial: [|Easily create and share personalized, annotated maps of your world] Keeping in mind your current/upcoming content or unit you are teaching, create a Google Map instruction activity:
 * Learning Objective **
 * Sign up for and use Google Maps.
 * Plan and construct an effective learning experience supported by Google Maps in a 1:1 setting.
 * Assignment Instructions **
 * Step 1 ** :
 * Step 2 ** :
 * Conduct some background research on content (i.e locations on a map) that will support and enhance students’ understanding of various concepts in your teaching area.
 * Locate some descriptive information for each of your locations, including an image or hyperlinks to additional information whenever appropriat e.
 * Add your place marks and descriptive information for each place mark; if relevant, add lines and/or shapes to your newly created Google map.

When you're finished editing your Google map, click "Link to this page" in the upper right-hand corner of the map window and copy the URL. As you work with Google Maps, you will discover that they produce extremely long camel case (upper and lower case) URLs. Many platforms, like Moodle for example cannot support these type of URLs. Our Wiki can handle them, but they are HUGE. So here is solution for Google maps or any other large URL.
 * Step 3: **
 * Go to: []
 * Paste that painfully long URL in the box (no sign in required)
 * Select “make tinyurl” button.
 * The second URL on the new page with "tinyurl.com" in it is your new shorten URL that will still lead to the original Google Map URL.

= Trailfire = Trailfire is a Web tool that allows users to save a series of Web pages about some topic. The pages can be annotated with notes or questions, and the trail link can be shared with other users or students for their perusal. This is an easy way for teachers and students to cull a cohesive set of resources about some topic much like you would do for a Webquest activity. Using your readings/websites for this week's session on safety, I created a Web Safety Trailfire that asks you to probe these further.
 * 1) **Integrate websites into your presentations.** If you plan to show one or more web-pages during a presentation, create a trail ahead of time. All you have to do is click the next button.
 * 2) **Facilitate classroom web exploration.** If you have a class where you want your students to explore a list of websites, create a trail for easy navigation. More importantly, it creates an easy to access archive of the websites. //Bonus:// students can add their own comments to the pages on the trail and continue adding to this resource after the class and even after the course.
 * 3) **Assess a web exploration activity.** If you plan a class activity where students must explore and find information on the internet, have them document the path they followed to find the information. Use the text notes to have students annotate what they found and/or reflections on method. //Bonus:// Demonstrating and reflecting on how to find good information on the web is valuable information to learn, discuss and share.
 * 4) **Creating Web Quests for students.** Many teachers may want to create web quests to use with their class as a learning activity. Trailfire is an extremely easy way to create the navigation component of a web quest.
 * 5) **Student-created Web Quests.** Many teachers also want to have their student create their own web quests. Students will find it easy and intuitive to use Trailfire as a central component of their web quest.

Excellent examples: Ecosystems Apartheid _

Recommend downloading the Firefox Web browser from Mozilla at: [] Trailfire has a plug-in you can download for the Firefox tool bar that will allow you to quick-save your trail marks. Keeping in mind your current/upcoming content or unit you are teaching, create a Trailfire that addresses concepts in your teaching area:
 * Learning Objective **
 * Sign up for and use Trailfire.
 * Plan and construct an effective learning experience using Trailfire in a 1:1 setting.
 * Assignment **
 * Step 1**:
 * Step 2**:
 * Create a free account at []
 * View the following [|YouTube Tutorial] that provides an introduction to making a Trailfire site.
 * Here is a tutorial I made: media type="custom" key="6547859"
 * Step 3:**
 * find a minimum of 5 different Web sites that pertain to your unit or current content
 * create a new trail in trailfire, mark your sites, and write a brief annotation for each mark; or, if you are creating a research trail, write a question or two for each site that you want your students to answer (i.e. Information Challenges).