Google+Maps+session


 * Customising Google Maps **

**What does this mean?**
Mostly, it is about customising placemarks by adding images, links and video and using some basic html code (provided) to change the appearance. It is also about creating and styling paths.

**Why Google Maps rather than Google Earth?**
Most of the tips here work equally well in both, but Google Maps has the advantage of being entirely web-based. Being 2D, it can also be an easier introduction to some of the concepts. When finished, you can save and upload the file to play as a tour in Google Earth.

What do I want to achieve?
There were two things that provided the impetus for this workshop: 1. [|Google LitTrips] - developed by Jerome Burg, using Google Earth, but the ideas are generally transferrable to Maps. 2. Carol LaRow's Historical Stories work. Similar to LitTrips, but focuses on using Google Maps. In this [|sample], look carefully at the place marks to see the different ways in which they have been used; there are lots of great ideas in this one example.

**Some basics first**
1. Make sure you use maps.google.com.au so that your measurements are automatically shown in metric rather than imperial units 2. Although not a necessary tool, it can be handy to turn on the ** Measurement ** tool. To do, you need to go to Maps Labs (under your account name), select Maps Labs, then select Enable for the measurement tool. Once done, you will see a 'ruler' icon appear at the bottom left of your Map.



**Customising Placemarks**
Google Maps has made it easy to do basic formatting, add an image or link, by providing a RichText option.

This is fine for basic customisations, but does not meet all needs. For that, we need some basic html. For some useful tips on code to use, try If you want to use tables, look at the sample code in the attached file. You can also use this to copy and paste into your own placemarks.
 * [|FormattingPlaceMarkers.pdf] from the Google LitTrips site
 * [|Advanced Google Earth Placemarks] from the DigitalGoonies site

For more advanced table code, check out the Google Earth page on [|Building Better Balloons]. You can download the templates, open them in Google Earth and copy the code.

**Image Sources**
You probably have your favourite sites for copyright-free images, but you could try Wikipedia Commons ([]) Creative Commons ([]) For lots more ideas, download __ [|Copyright Friendly Images.pdf] __ from the Google LitTrips site.

**Inserting Images**

 * your own images must be available on internet, not stored locally (Picasa WebAlbums is useful for this, as is the Public folder in Dropbox)
 * remember to navigate to the actual image where possible
 * keep size relatively small
 * remember to attribute your image
 * eg. Flickr creative commons images __[] (__note the attribute info)

**Embedding YouTube clips**
This can be a little tricky, and is one area where Google Earth seems to do better. This is what works for me at the moment 1. Locate your required YouTube video and click the Share button to obtain the code needed in step 2.

2. In your map, edit a placemark, then click "Edit HTML" and paste in the following code, replacing the code at the end (after /v/ with the relevant code from step 1.   

3. Click "ok" then click "Save" & "Done". note: if using Google Earth, make sure you select 'Use old embed code' from YouTube > Share > Embed; you do not use to use the above code.

**Ideas for projects using Google Maps**
(many of these came from Tammy Worcester at the ISTE2011 conference, [|www.toolsforteachers.com]) 1. Start a map by putting one placemark on a map and then students to add a placemark and description of their own.

2. Write a story/report that involves travel to different locations. Put each chapter/section within a placemark.

3. Plan (or report on) a vacation. Create a placemark for each stop. In the placemark description, tell what you will do (or did) at each location.

4. Choose a book or movie where characters travel to different locations, and use placemarks and descriptions.

5. Create a family tree map.

6. Create a community map with placemarks, images and descriptions.

7. Do the same as above but at a regional or state level.

8. Do the above but for an unfamiliar place.

9.Track a musician, band or entertainer on tour.

10. Follow a TV show like ‘The Amazing Race’.

11. Explore a novel, as in the [|sample] by Carol LaRow that was mentioned earlier.

//Collaborative map ideas// 1. Birthplaces - students add a place mark to show where they were born. 2. Each student adds something to the community map suggested above. 3. Do a "if you could live anywhere....." assignment 4. Where am I? Each student adds a place mark, the teacher gives a clue, then the students move their place mark to show their guess.

Downloading and Using the completed kml file
Once you have finished making a Google Map, click the link to kml or the Google Earth icon; this will download a kml file which will then open in Google Earth.

Using Picasa Web Albums to Generate a Google Map
There is a smooth way to generate a kml file by first uploading photos to Picasa Web Albums. 1. Upload your photos. You can use either the Picasa software (cross-platform) or install the uploader into iPhoto (Mac). 2. Remember to select the options to not have too big a resolution for each image when uploading. 3. Once uploaded, select the option to view in Google Earth. 4. This downloads a kml file. You may wish to rename it in a more meaningful way. 5. In Google Maps, select "Create Map" the click Import. 6. Navigate to the kml file. 7. Modify the description field to be more meaningful. 8. Modify any place marks as required.

**Resources**
Google tutorial for creating a Google Map, in html ([]) and as a video ([|http://earth.google.com/outreach/tutorials.html#]) And, for moving on to doing this work in Google Earth, start with the Annotating Google Earth tutorial ([])

Google LitTrips ([]/), developed by Jerome Burg. From the homepage, follow the Downloads link to get the tip sheets. And, if you have enjoyed this work, think about using or creating your own LitTrip.

Digital Goonies ([]): this site, by Jim Holland and Susan Anderson, contains lots of ICT tips, but this page has the links for this work. Be sure to check out the activity ideas as well as the tips.

Kevin Amboe's distillation of ideas on using Google Earth (prepared for ISTE2010), some of which is based on the work by Jerome Burg.

[|This page] has info about and links to the Building Better Balloons work from Google Outreach.