The Interactive Map (Lab Two)

The ideas of "place" and "community," along with what it means to be a member of a community, being from a place, or occupying a place--physically or virtually--is a very "humanities" question.

For this lab, you will create your own Interactive Map. I want you to think deeply about place, space, community, and the context of each of these, and then make a statement about it with your project.

Where to Start

Look at the examples and resources in this module.
Consider the ideas and our understandings of place, space, and and how that influences our ideas of the world.
Think about location in terms of: globe, continent, country, city, county, neighborhood.
Think about context, change over time, movement over time (migrations, glaciers, etc.).
THEN look at the feature options to best tell your story.

What is Due

A link to your Interactive Map on your digital portfolio that:
- has meaningful interactive elements (at least one layer or other data in addition to a map)
- makes a critical statement that calls attention to, questions, critiques, or celebrates some larger aspect of humanity
- feels complete
An abstract that is posted on your digital portfolio or embedded within the project (or both) that:
- clearly and thoroughly explains how your project calls attention to, questions, critiques, or celebrates some larger aspect of humanity
- is between 100-200 words
- includes at least one citation in proper MLA or APA format.
  - Citation means a scholarly source. Search here or maybe even here

Google Earth

Google Earth Web: https://earth.google.com/web/ (requires a Chrome browser AND a Google account)

Google Earth Desktop: https://www.google.com/earth/versions/ (requires a download)

Overview

Google Earth allows you to create an annotated map. This could outline and explain a factual, historical journey using modern map locations (such as the path of the Olympic torch), it could explain where events that predate modern countries took place (such as the journey of the ancient Roman army), or it could follow the path of fictional characters created by you or someone else.

Google Earth Web is a download-free tool that requires a Google account and the Chrome browser. If you already have a Google account and wish to create a blank/dummy account, you will need to either log out or open an incognito window in your browser. The Google Earth Desktop does not require the use of a browser, but I think the download may be rather large.

Examples

Resources

ESRI StoryMaps

ESRI StoryMaps: https://ucfonline.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html

Overview

ESRI StoryMaps is a part of ArcGIS. We have access to this through UCF, so be ready to enter your NID and password.

These flexible pages allow you to customize a whole website around a place-based topic. There are many data import options as well, so you can easily incorporate real data into interactive maps.

Examples

Resources

StoryMap.JS

StoryMap.JS: https://storymap.knightlab.com/

Overview

StoryMap.JS is a free tool created at the Northwestern University Knight Lab intended to be user-friendly. The tool allows you to add information (text and images) on top of images and maps. The projects are organized in slides, much like Google Slides, but with StoryMap.JS, the author has the freedom to select any image to traverse with their story.