Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Storymaps and the Digital Age



Maps have always intrigued me.  I remember as a student being told that the early cartographers drew the known area and then wrote "Beyond this point there be dragons".  I've never found the dragons but I still look.

Recently I discovered some map sharing tools that appeals to the historian and storyteller in me.  It is a way to connect pictures and maps and include your own stories to go along with the pictures.  I think it would be a great way to study things for social studies and history using primary sources.  It would also be a great way to look at family history in context to the times.

As a student I would be engaged to compare and contrast pictures from "Historical Events" with current pictures.  I am a very visual learner.  Pictures are a really important tool that guides my learning.  Learning how to evaluate pictures and add the storytelling element is higher level thinking at its best.

We Are What We Do developed Historypin in partnership with Google.  I have included the introductory video and How to Use Historypin.




2 comments:

  1. Historypin looks great! I am a map buff too. I love looking at old maps especially. One place I found recently which has a very early Mercator atlas is the British Library's Turning the Pages - I think you'll enjoy it as much as i did. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ttpbooks.html#

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  2. I will go look at the site you recommended. Thanks for telling me about it.

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