Google Maps: Collaboration welcome!
Ever since I heard and watched David Jakes present on Google Maps as well as Google Earth at TechForum Southwest in Austin this past November, I’ve been itching for an excuse/reason to play more with Google Maps. Last week’s visit to Seattle for NCCE 2008 provided me with just the opportunity I was looking for! I used Google Maps this evening to create a linked, customized map of our favorite restaurants we visited on our recent trip:
I was thrilled to notice, after I created this map, that Google Maps now permits COLLABORATION between multiple people. How cool, as well as powerful! Unlike Google Documents, which (as far as I know) only permits collaboration with individuals you specify, Google Maps permits editing and collaboration with ANYONE:
Ah, the possibilities, the possibilities! In true web 2.0 style, visitors to a shared Google Map can “rate” it as well as leave comments. Look for more Google Maps coming soon from Washington D.C., as I journey there next week (accompanied by technical assistant, my 4th grade son) for the COSN conference! 
Technorati Tags:
google, map, education, learning, collaboration, web2, ncce2008, geography
On this day..
- A Passion for making learning fun, Memories of Growing Up Poor, Coming to Oklahoma in a Covered Wagon, One Room Schoolhouses - 2009
- Creativity and Netbooks - 2009
- Issues with tiered content filtering - 2008
- WOW2 podcast interview available - 2007
- Obscure movies face a great future - 2007
- ADE Deadline Tomorrow - 2007
- Kids want engaged learning - 2006
- Updates to my Macintosh resource website - 2004
- Filesharing and hacking - 2004
Categories: geography, travel, web 2.0
Wes-
Good to see my 2 favorites on your map: Palomino and Cheesecake Factory.
Thanks again for the visit at Palomino while you were in Seattle…I wish I could have had a video running when I walked into the restaurant scanning the place looking for NCCE folks I had never met, and seeing 4 XO laptops sitting atop a crowed lounge table. That would have been a great opening shot for the next OLPC campaign.
by Ken Pendergrass on Mar 4, 2008 at 12:28 am
Wes,
I enjoy reading your posts. Great stuff.
Thought I would share a Google Maps lesson that I am teaching tomorrow. The lesson uses Google Maps to review the mathematical concept of area and the reasons why it is important to find the area of location/objects. Perhaps it might be useful for others.
Here is the Google Map: http://tinyurl.com/yodclx
Here is the lesson plan, worksheet, handouts, and tutorial movie:
http://tinyurl.com/2geeer
by Willy on Mar 4, 2008 at 6:28 am
Wow–Google Maps does look incredible. Wouldn’t it be cool for my English 11 students to map the setting in a novel or short story! Imagine mapping Amir’s (main character in The Kite Runner)journies. I wonder if they could create a travel narrative with Google Maps? I’m off to play with it myself. Thanks for sharing.
My Blog: JustRead!
by lhuff on Mar 4, 2008 at 8:34 am
What? I’m not even credited for my restaurant recommendation?
Shouldn’t my only reason for going to Seattle be shared with the blogosphere?
by Gary Stager on Mar 4, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Gary, for the record, I didn’t give anyone attribution credit in the Google Map… yet. But I am certainly glad to! We dined last week at The Icon Grill in Seattle at the suggestion of Gary Stager– and as predicted, the deep fried macaroni and cheese appetizers were delicious!
Although we enjoyed the Icon Grill, my favorite restaurants in Seattle were Cutters Bayhouse just north of Pike Street Market (half price appetizers and drinks from 3:30 - 6:30 are hard to beat) and Piroshky Piroshky. I think my wife’s favorite was 4 Swallows in Bainbridge, but that was more for the atmosphere and bread pudding dessert rather than the entrees.
Attribution for these restaurant selections includes:
No one recommended Piroshky Piroshky, we just saw it as we walked the storefronts by Pike Market. It’s just south of the original Starbucks coffeeshop in Seattle.
by Wesley Fryer on Mar 4, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I was joking
The Icon Grill is the best thing I can say for Seattle.
by Gary Stager on Mar 4, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Jokes are welcome here as comments.
It was a great restaurant. I wish I had a budget to eat out at places like these more often!
by Wesley Fryer on Mar 4, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Don’t you make all that Money 2.0?
by Gary Stager on Mar 4, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Not yet. I think I need to write a book. I want to give it away online as a free PDF tho, in addition to selling it in paperback. I don’t think that will make me rich, but it may provide some extra funds for eating out.
by Wesley Fryer on Mar 4, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Good luck! Writing an education book won’t pay for many meals.
by Gary Stager on Mar 5, 2008 at 12:32 am