Maker Project: GoogleMap of your students' favourite places.

Challenge: A GoogleMap of your students favourite places in Dublin (or wherever you are teaching next week).

Disclosure: The use of technology in this is really a data entry so that the students create the list of places you upload to GoogleMaps. That map becomes a prop for the talk your students give. After the talk, the map becomes a classroom asset. During the talk it is focal point for their presentations and perhaps a discussion afterwards. 

It also creates an artifact of the group's time together and if relationships are the canvas on which we paint our language, groups matter. More benefits can be gained if your students consent to filming and storing their short videos up on YouTube. (Re: YouTube- Get written consent, mark this stuff as private and keep your promises).

Stuff: 

Post-it notes and a connected computer or tablet like an iPad.

Programs: 

GoogleMaps; Spreadsheet software eg Excel or Spreadsheets in Google Drive

Time: 

40 minutes

Day One

10 minutes (whole class) 5 minutes (individuals)

Day Two

30 minutes for 15 (1-minute) presentations

Tech help page:

http://www.add3.com/insights/how-to-create-customize-and-embed-a-google-map/

Step-by-Step:

1) Before class, post a post it note on the window in your class room with the question: what's your favourite place in Dublin (be specific)?

2) Ask students to consider three or four different answers. This could be their favourite nightclub, gym, park, shop, tourist attraction even their bus stop.

3) Pass around the post-it stack and have them write down one answer and then post them on the walls in the class.

4) Start your main lesson. But explain that you will be passing around a computer or ipad to enter in their answers with the name of the place, the location (the address if it's on the website) a relevant website or video link in a spreadsheet. Enter your own example to show them as a model. The address is key. Tell them to search for an address or location. The website is optional. The address and name are mandatory.

My part of my spreadsheet from the ACELS layer. (See previous post)

So each student inputs their own bits as you start the mains of your lesson. They may need to get coordinates or search in Google for a location. If Phoenix Park is their answer they'll need a minute to find an address. Spend time with the first person and have the first person spend time with the second person, etc... It's important that they have one or two locations. 'My apartment' is a frequent answer, but this may be the only address students know. It's ok.

5) As class is ending take a moment to ask the students to take a post it note each from a different person off the wall and find out who wrote it and then place it on the class window around the question for tomorrow's lesson. (You could alternatively leave this tomorrow if your building cleaners are cool and the next teacher is a lecturer.) 

As they are doing this at the end of class, open a GoogleMap for yourself and check the data your learners have put on it. 

If the Place, Address and Site columns are filled for each, upload spreadsheet. But remember the address column is the one the map will need most. 

Nine out of ten locations should come back as ok. Some addresses will need refining but only a few. So they've saved you a lot of work. GoogleMaps will use the addresses to automatically stick in location pins. Customize them for color or icon but the names and website will be automatically done.

6) Let the students know the next day that they will need to present their favourite place in Dublin for 1 minute (even just 1 for elementary, and, yes, you can do this with elementary). Scaffold the presentations. Require the following: 

• an introduction, 
• a story about how they found the place, 
• what they do there, 
• why they go there and 
• when might be a good time for others to visit 
• and maybe what to bring.

7) Share the map with them on Edmodo or your class blog or LMS portal. (If you don't have one make one. If you want help, say so in the comments below) 

Post student notes to the map. Post the videos only if everyone is okay with it.

8)Project the map up behind them and let them control the map as they give their one minute presentation. 

Further directions: 

Pronunciation: get written consent to record your students and record their tiny speech. Pick out one or two syllable stress or linking tips for them. Maybe post their videos to the map. 

Note-taking: have each student take notes on each speech.

Speaking: have students get together in threes to plan a trip to see 4 places on Saturday. Maybe they will follow up and actually do it. Have them report back on their plans.

Helping your school: Definitely share the map if you can. Even if not here are some other sharing ideas

• Share the map with your DOS or 
• other teachers from your level or 
• the activities coordinator. 

There are loads of directions to take this. Go teach.

And write back about how it went.