Google Maps Lesson

I created a lesson for my students (My Lesson ) on how to use the public transportation services in Leesburg, VA to find a job. To create my lesson for the students in my Career Pathways course I had to first go onto Google Maps and pull up the map of Leesburg. I then selected our school as the first location on the map followed by a list of local businesses that I know students would be interested in applying for employment.I created my map and then typed in the name of each employer, selected it and Google placed it on my map.When I had all of my desired locations displayed on the map I then used the snipping tool and placed an image on my hard rive in my Picture folder. Here is the link to my Google Map: My Google Map.

Although I use mapping websites often and for any excuse I can find, this was the first time that I used Google Maps in this fashion. I map out trips and vacations frequently with Google Maps, MapQuest, Yahoo Maps, but I have never used any of these sites to create a lesson plan. It was very easy.

Doing this lesson reminded me of how important it is to teach the students some of the most common tools on the internet and to give them a true life example of why they would use this technology. My students often do not drive or do not have access to a car and are hesitant to go out on their own to learn something "new" to them, such as taking a bus. By combining Google Maps with the bus schedule and map that is easily found for the Leesburg Bus, I can give my students the tools they need to find a job and independently get to and from that job.

The ISTE standard that was applied in this lesson was facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity through the use of technology. I used my knowledge of job seeking along with my knowledge of technology to assist my students in solving of a real world issue for them using digit tools.