Google+Maps

__Resources links__
 * __[|Google Maps]__
 * __[|Google Maps for educators]__
 * __[|Getting Started]__
 * __[|Google Mapmaker]__
 * [|Google Maps Mania (Blog)]
 * [|Map Your World]
 * [|Using Google Maps in the Classroom]
 * [|YouTube Video: Google Maps]

__SWOT Analysis__ __Strengths__ __Weaknesses__ __Opportunities__
 * Free
 * Easy to use
 * No download necessary
 * No log in/passwords
 * Interactive and highly detailed
 * Street, terrain, or satellite views
 * Editable
 * Custom maps can be created
 * Online directory of custom maps
 * Offers directions via both car and public transit (walking, bus, and subway routes)
 * Shows the current traffic on a scale ranging from slow to fast
 * Ability to create default location
 * AVAILABLE THROUGH MOBILE PHONE DEVICES
 * Accurate distance and time directions
 * Street view allows you to be familiar with the area you are traveling to
 * Street views limited to certain urban areas
 * Lacks some features found in Google Earth download
 * Sometimes (though rarely) directions between two different points on the map may be incorrect
 * Not able to add the feature of pictures from actual trip
 * Can't fully integrate into all Google sites yet, so users have to provide the link and description
 * Does not offer alternative routes
 * Does not take road construction into consideration
 * Map size is slightly small and can be larger if whitespace is reduced
 * ADDRESSES AND SATELLITE IMAGES ARE NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE; NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE NOT ON THE MAP EITHER
 * Unclear images
 * Some street views have inappropriate material
 * Accurate maps can zoom to the exact area being discussed in a class
 * Custom map projects can be created
 * Basic map skills can be taught
 * Historical locations can be tracked and labeled
 * Expose students to other states and their current location
 * TRAVEL TIME CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE DUE TO PRECISE DIRECTIONS

__Threats__
 * Possible inappropriate photos in the street view are unlikely but there are sites which detail where things like this occur and how to locate them.
 * WRONG DIRECTIONS LEADING YOU TO DIRECTIONS IN WHICH YOU WERE NOT LOOKING FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

__Ideas for the classroom__
 * Students can learn basic map skills such as direction and latitude/longitude while finding information about the location of their houses, school, and other sites.
 * Students can create custom maps of as part of a research project. Example: Labeling the battles in the Pacific Theater in World War II.
 * Students and teachers can search custom maps to find examples of many other geographic concepts such as topography or climate.
 * Classes can “tour” the world’s cities by using the photos in the street view.
 * When taking field trips (i.e., to Washington, D.C.), students can record their locations during travel and type in the activities conducted to keep a log of travels
 * Can cover historial events (ex, where battles have occurred)
 * Use for planning a trip (Good from Geography where students can create travel brochures, etc).
 * Mapping current events, such as the San Diego wildfired
 * Students can learn mathematical concepts such as scale drawing and distance
 * WHEN TRAVELING, STUDENTS CAN HAVE THE ABILITY TO NAVIGATE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT FAMILIARED WITH THE AREA.
 * Students can locate and research story locations or settings in literature.
 * Students can create tours of their own cities, towns, and neighborhoods.
 * When studying composers in music classes, students can use Google Maps to see locations where these composers lived, worked, and traveled. This ability gives students a greater understanding of the influences had on composers and their music, and the importance of globalization and its influence on music of today. (K. Zeng)
 * Students can use the maps to provide directions from one place to another in a second language.
 * Students can determine where partner students (exchange program) live with respect to the partner school and historic sites in a foreign city or town.
 * Students can map out routes for field trips and calculate gas use for a bus
 * Students can map out places in stories and add pictures, captions, and links to the placed. Here is an example for the children's book [|How to Make Apple Pie and See the World] by Marjorie Priceman.