BatchGeo

Sure enough if I didn't learn a couple things today. After receiving the shared document early this morning, I entered my data. My eagerness to see how a shared document builds kept me revisiting it throughout the day. Names appeared, addresses appeared...once while I was watching. Tonight however, I go in and see my name and street address missing along with two others'. I replaced mine and proceeded to follow directions about copying to find that I, myself, accidently deleted a name. Lesson #1 Learned! When using a shared document, even mistakes get shared!

Eventually I got the list copied and transferred to BatchGeo and got the map: Classmate Locator Map. In doing that I found that by hovering my mouse over a location bubblepin, the name of the person living there appears. However, where the name had been missing, no name appeared on the map. Names with locations has merit if used in an environment where everyone knows each other. As stated on my previous post, I would want to use this mapping technique on the Virginia Lovers' Gourd Society website to indicate where members live. In that instance, having names pop up would not be advisable for security reasons. Lesson #2 Learned! Leaving the name box in the spreadsheet blank would still show member location, but maintain member privacy unless members in that area wished to share their names with each other.

For a classroom setting, a maps strategy would be an excellent way for students to plot locations of battles, museums, colleges, etc. By creating a spreadsheet initially, especially in Google Docs where everyone shared the labor of entering their personal choices, a map gives a visual anchor to the information presented. I believe this lesson fits well in the ISTE NETS-T standard #2 -- Design and Develop Digital Age Learning...especially when developing authentic learning experiences incorporating a contemporary tool such as BatchGeo. Real life situations promotes learning and creativity. Two students I have in mind could use this activity now for their projects about Hollister Indians and the Cahokia Mounds.

Lesson #3 to be learned: Embedding the map image!  In the previous post I captured the map and showed it that way. However the email I got from BatchGeo showed the map, editing the map, and embedding it to a website...that was the snag. It seems simple, and I'm sure it is once I find out how to do it. It's like wondering if a gourd is edible or not. It looks tasty, and you know some CAN be eaten, but what's the key to figuring out which is which? I'll have to confer with others to figure out the next step and come back to make some editorial changes. Until then, best regourds!!