View Content #25948

From http://blog.tesol.org/mapping-engaging-experiences/

Greg Kessler writes, "One of my favorite resources for language teaching has been maps. There are so many ways that creative teachers can use maps to make engaging experiences for their students. With today’s digitally aggregated, crowdsourced, customized, and mashup map, the potential is even greater. Anyone can create maps that are individualized and customized to their own needs or interests. They can also contribute to online maps as a collaborative act of participatory culture. Websites such as Open Street Map, and the Open Cities Mapping Project are designed for individuals to contribute and co-construct a shared awareness of visual and geographical representation. The easiest of these is Google Maps.

"...Maps can also be used to immerse learners in authentic target language contexts. Google earth and street view creates opportunities for learners to navigate actual spaces as if they were present. We can walk down streets in advance of visiting a particular location. We can also engage in social media practices that connect to this kind of activity."

Read his full article for a wide range of ideas for using maps for language learning: http://blog.tesol.org/mapping-engaging-experiences/