manageProject

Successful Project Management
By now you pobably have LOTS of ideas for using Google Maps in your classroom. But first, let's look at how we can manage the project in your classroom to ensure success when you try this in your classroom.

Let's suppose you are planning to have your students create a map to go along with a state report project. The map will include five to seven placemarks that highlight points of interest throughout their state. You can't just take the kids to a computer lab, show them how to make a placemark, and then cut them loose to work. You'll need to create checkpoints along the way, and dedicate the majority of the project time to research, resource collection and planning. If you do that, a couple of chunks of time in the school computer lab, hopefully on consecutive days, will ensure success.

Good project organization leads to high success in any technology project, and for this project, with its many URL's it is critical. Start the path to success by separating the RESEARCH process from the map CREATION process. Click the link below to open an electronic worksheet (in Word format) which will help you and your students organize the information so when you start to create your map you can just slam it together. This will help you focus your attention on the CONTENT you want to include first, then add the "bling" on your map secondarily!

I would STRONGLY suggest the worksheet be completed electronically. Many of the URL's you and your students will find are long and complicated and one wrong keystroke will set the project back by many minutes, and if there are 3 or 4 mis-types, the odds are strong you have some very frustrated students before too long (and you won't be real happy either!). Copy and paste each URL, picture, and then have the kids type in the content they'll include with each placemark. I would set a due date for these, collect them up and grade them BEFORE the students ever start working on the maps.


 * [|**Click HERE to download the electronic research worksheet.**] (Word format)

Click the following link to download the PowerPoint verion of the research collection tool. **