Geographical Association

These web-based tools and software packages have been reviewed by the GA's ICT Special Interest Group. Each review contains a brief description of the resource, possible teaching ideas for geography lessons and any potential drawbacks.

A Vision of Britain through Time

Web address:    www.visionofbritain.org.uk
Keywords:          UK Places, Census, Employment,
                              Industry, Historic Maps, Citizenship,
                              Community
Key stages:        KS2, KS3, KS4 and above

Brief explanation of resource:

This site contains historic information about places in Britain. These can be searched for and then information found under a number of headings: Historical Map, Travel Writing, Census Reports, Election Results. Each of these have a sub menu for example the statistical atlas has headings such as agriculture and land use, employment, industry. Each place has a detailed gazetteer reference and historic map with links to related websites.

Teaching ideas:

One easy way to use this at a basic level is to allow students to research different local places and compare their origins and development. The changing structure of employment in two different areas or at two different times with illustrative graphs is a more complex task!

Be aware of:

View and research the site and materials with some care before using them. This is a very comprehensive and powerful site but takes some time to find what is available and make the best use of it. The statistical information needs to used with care because of changes in boundaries and local authorities over time - it is easy not to compare like with like!

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, March 2012

BBC: Dharavi Slum

Web address:    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/
                              spl/hi/world/06/dharavi_slum/html/
                              dharavi_slum_intro.stm
Keywords:          Urbanisation, Dharavi, Mumbai,
                              India, Slum, Squatter settlement
Key stages:        KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

Contains interactive panoramic images with supporting text to explore living/working conditions for six different residents in the Dharavi slum, Mumbai. All images are high resolution and students can scroll 360 degrees through the image, zoom in etc.

Excellent resource to visualise living and working conditions in a slum, with clear links to many KS3, GCSE and A-level programmes of study, including detailed information about residents' efforts and strategies to improve their living conditions.

Use the tabs at the top to select appropriate person, then double click on the panoramic image to make full screen. The range of individuals may challenge students' preconceptions about the type of resident in Dharavi (e.g. includes aircraft engineer). Also exceptionally useful to show that Dharavi is a living and working slum (e.g. pottery worker).

Teaching ideas:

This could be displayed via a projector, but is best used by students on individual PCs.

Students can use the panoramic images to describe the living/working conditions for one resident, or to compare residents' living/working conditions. Accompanying text can be used to identify improvements to living conditions.

Could be used in conjunction with selected scenes from Slumdog Millionaire or the more informative Channel 4 documentary 'Slumming It'.

Be aware of:

Images may be slow to load with whole class use.

Reviewed by: Andy Newing, February 2011

BBC: Growth of the 'big four' supermarkets

Web address:    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12007835
Keywords:          Urban Planning, Choropleth Mapping,
                              Supermarkets, Dairy Farming,
                              Regeneration
Key stages:        KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

Articles on the BBC Website linked to a Panorama documentary (22 December 2010 - 'Supermarkets: What Price Cheap Food?') that explored the impacts of a rise in the number of grocery stores operated by the major retailers.

Demonstrates the scale of recent growth in this sector, accompanied by detailed analysis. Includes Choropleth mapping and other downloadable data (e.g. spreadsheet of planning applications) that could be used for data analysis.

Explores in detail the impacts of supermarket growth across a range of scales including impacts on suppliers/farmers, consumers and on urban communities. The 'for and against' section contains the views of a range of named stakeholders.

Also includes a case study of a mega dairy, the town of Sheringham in Norfolk, and a detailed assessment of relevant planning policy - especially the role of retailers in wider regeneration schemes.

Teaching ideas:

Could be used in a number of ways as a follow up to the BBC Panorama documentary to focus on one or more aspects of the programme and website e.g. impacts of superstores on farmers, planning policy, regeneration etc.

Use the mega dairy or Sheringham example as a case study to support an appropriate section of an exam specification.

Download the Excel spreadsheet and identify planning applications for new stores in your area - use the 'for and against' section to consider the impacts on your local community. This could include opportunities for out of classroom learning (e.g. students carry out a survey of local businesses or residents to ascertain opinions, or evaluate one or more potential 'sites' for a new store), or involve external speakers (e.g. a planner from the local council).

Be aware of:

Due to the wealth of information available on this site, students would need clear guidance as to which sections to use.

Reviewed by: Andy Newing, February 2011

BBC: Urban growth

Web address:    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/
                              spl/hi/world/06/urbanisation/html/
                              urbanisation.stm
Keywords:          Urbanisation, Urban Growth, World
                              Cities
Key stages:        KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

Excellent interactive map from BBC News that can be used to explore urban growth from 1955 to 2015 (projected).

Drag the slider beneath the map to move from 1955 to 2015 and watch as the number and size of cities with a population over 5 million grows.

Hover over any individual city to reveal the total population. Use the pie and bar charts on the right hand side to explore changes in the proportions of urban/rural dwellers and the relative share of urban populations among each region.

Teaching ideas:

An excellent starter to a sequence of lessons exploring world cities or urbanisation in less developed regions - including the growth of slums.

Could be used via a projector for a whole class activity. Work forward from 1955 and students could guess which cities will grow the most or how the proportion of urban/rural population will change etc.

Students could use the map individually to explore the pattern of growth, perhaps focussing on a particular city or region and carrying out appropriate research into the factors behind or the impacts of urban population growth in that city/region.

Be aware of:

No known issues - the map's interactive functions should work on most school networks.

Reviewed by: Andy Newing, February 2011

Birmingham Civic Dashboard

Web address:   civicdashboard.org.uk
Keywords:         Birmingham Civic Dashboard, GIS,
                             Citizenship
Key stages:       KS3, KS4 and above

Brief description:

This site is a dashboard, an active monitor of dynamic phenomena. Unlike many it attempts to collect the views or concerns of citizens living in different parts of Birmingham and plots them on a map of the area. These may be related to complaints about 'dumped' rubbish, street lights that do not work, litter or traffic congested areas. It also produces graphs and diagrams of residents' concerns and the authority can reply to them.

A similar site called Chromaroma is based around the Central London stations.

Teaching ideas:

This resource has a changing focus so needs to be checked regularly for ideas. This is a very good example of how modern technology and social networking sites can be used for civic good. The mapping of this information produces a pattern of concerns which are often helpful for geographers. One teaching idea would be after looking at this site to produce a similar one for the catchment area of the school using overlays on a Google Map base.

Be aware of:

View and research the site and the materials with some care before using them - some of the materials will be unsuitable for educational use others just what you were looking for! It is necessary to register to this website but an overview is available without logging on. The site is very new and clearly is in a development stage.

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, March 2012

Flightradar24

Web address:    www.flightradar24.com
Keywords:          GIS, Travel, Distribution, Transport,
                              Aeroplane
Key stages:        KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

• A large sophisticated live database of air traffic
• Works best over the UK and Europe
• Shows the location of many aeroplanes indicating the aircraft type, flight number, altitude and flight path
• It also locates key airports

Teaching ideas:

This is a fascinating live database which offers plenty of potential student activities. They could try to explain why certain areas have clusters of aeroplanes; try to identify the main routes; which airports are most used in Europe by which airlines; find out how the patterns change at different times of day; locate the plane that has traveled the furthest etc.

Be aware of:

This is best used after a demonstration has taken place. Pre-plan the key questions you wish the students to answer before they use the site. Check how fast you can access the website on your school network.

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, February 2011

Graphic detail - The Economist

Web address:    www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail
Keywords:          Chart, Visualisation, Infographic, Graph,
                              Economy, Maps
Key stages:        Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

On this blog The Economist publishes a new chart or map every working day, highlighting interactive data features and providing links to interesting data from around the web.

Teaching ideas:

You could use this website with many topics but it is particularly good for Post-16 geographers especially with courses that are more contemporary in nature.

The graphics are useful for students who are preparing for university interviews as it gives them a wide range of issues to look at. There are also the obvious cross-curricular links.

Be aware of:

As the site is updated daily it can take time to search the charts from previous weeks.

It can be time consuming to check everyday.

Ensure it isn't blocked by your school's security settings as it is technically a blog.

Reviewed by: Bob Lang, December 2011

Hydrological Gateway

Web address:       www.hydrology.org.uk/
                                 hydrological_gateway.htm
Keywords:             Hydrology, Climate, River
                                 Management, Rivers, River Systems,
                                 Hazards
Key stages:           KS3, KS4 and above

Brief description:

This website by the British Hydrological Society provides a gateway to many other websites which give access to a variety of different sources of hydrological data, providing information on a large number of river systems. Some of the information is live from gauging points while other material is historic so river flow can be seen over time and at different locations on the course of the stream.

Teaching ideas:

This resource has a changing focus so needs to be checked regularly for changes in data. The site can be used to select a particular data source which illustrates which learning objectives are suitable for the level of students being taught. For example it may be the objective to look at how the flow of a particular stream varies according to its location on the river system or to consider in which the season it is likely to flood or reach its bank-full stage. The influence of engineering structures or different geology on flow can also be examined and rivers in different locations contrasted and graphs drawn or downloaded

Be aware of:

View and research the site and the materials with some care before using them - some of the materials will be unsuitable for educational use others just what you were looking for!

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, March 2012

iGeology App

Web address:    www.bgs.ac.uk/igeology
Keywords:          iPhone, GPS, Geology, Physical
                              Geography,
Key stages:        KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

iGeology is a new free app for iPhone, iPad and Android that lets you take a geological map of Britain with you in your pocket wherever you go. It has UK coverage and with most of the 1:50 000 scale maps of the UK you get quite a lot of detail. It is of course scaleable and it is so simple to use that anyone can learn more about the geology wherever they are.

A pinch grip allows the user to zoom in and out and touching the screen brings up a text box that gives information about both the superficial and the bedrock geology. I think it is detailed enough for all but the hardcore geologist.

There are several different ways of finding places. You can search by entering a place name or postcode, or locate yourself directly using the phone's in-built GPS and find out what the bedrock is you are standing on.

Teaching ideas:

I've used iGeology on several fieldtrips and it certainly makes geology come to life. Most recently I used it in the North Lakes on the WorldWise Challenge weekend. Even on the small screen of the iPhone it gives a clear overall picture and you can zoom in to identify smaller scale features such as the boundary between the Ordovician rocks around Skiddaw and Blencathra and the volcanics to the south as well as the zone of contact metamorphism.

It certainly helped the students to imagine the ocean, the subduction zone and the associated volcanoes which were active in the area over 450 million years ago. I'd recommend it as a useful addition to your fieldwork equipment for any trip outdoors.

• Some waterfalls are caused by hard rocks overlying softer rocks. A classic example of this is High Force in Teesdale. Locate the waterfall and identify both the hard and soft rocks that are responsible for the formation. Can you find others that fit the pattern?
• Use the location tool to find out what the rock type is under the school. Is there any evidence of the rock anywhere near school. If not, why not?
• Use the app to study coastal areas (such as the Dorset coast) to explore how the geology determines the shape of the bays and headlands
• Look at the geology map of the UK. What large scale patterns can be seen?
• Use the app to explore an area such as the Weald or South Downs prior to visiting. Does the geology impact on the shape of the land, the building materials, the farming?

Be aware of:

Some users report an issue with screenshots being automatically saved to their phone's photo gallery so it may be worth keeping an eye on that.

GPS is required for the best functionality when out in the field.

The app can be slow to load.

Reviewed by: John Lyon, May 2012

Live train map for the London Underground

Web address:    http://traintimes.org.uk/map/tube
Keywords:          GIS, London, Urban Geography,
                              Transport, Commute, Networks
Key stages:        KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

• A live GIS resource which shows the movement of underground trains in London
• Trains can be identified and seen in 'real time' and plotted on a variety of maps
• The site links with the National Rail system map where some trains are plotted and individual live station train information boards can be viewed

Teaching ideas:

Where and why is the density of trains highest and when? Does their frequency decrease from one specific location? How is their frequency related to land use? Students should be asked how they would use this information which is designed for mobile phones.

Be aware of:

This is a live database and does take a little time to load. It should also be refreshed from time to time. The National Railway network does not allow all stations to be selected and does not show all services on the map but it is good for showing any station information board. Check how fast you can access the website on your school network.

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, February 2011

MarineTraffic.com

Web address:    www.marinetraffic.com
Keywords:          GIS, Shipping, Distribution, Transport,
                              Port, Trade
Key stages:        KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

• A large sophisticated live GIS database which plots the global movement of marine traffic
• Individual ships are identified and described, their routes and the track of their past route plotted.
• Areas can be selected and zoomed into
• Graphs and fact sheets can also be generated

Teaching ideas:

This is a fascinating, sophisticated and yet very accessible live database which can be interrogated in many different ways. At a continental level the question of where and why more ships are found in some areas and not others can be tackled. The Horn of Africa shows no ships - why?

Select a particular port and ask which ships are in it and where they came from. Choose a cruise liner such as Queen Victoria and find out which destinations she has visited.

The route of a ship can be checked every lesson or its course plotted over a few days - pair students with different vessels.

The marine trade of a nation could be investigated.

Be aware of:

This is a complex and sophisticated live database but it is very easy to use. It is suggested that students are shown some of its more advanced functions after they have explored it themselves. Check how fast you can access the website on your school network.

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, February 2011

NOMIS Official Labour Market Statistics

Web address:    https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/
                              lmp/ward/contents.aspx
Keywords:          Neighbourhood, Census, Health,
                              Economic Activity, Wards
Key stages:        KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

A useful source of data and tools for comparing small areas (wards) using demographic, economic and health indicators. The site contains some datasets that are not available via neighbourhood statistics and provides a very user-friendly interface through which to compare wards with district or national data.

The data and tables can be downloaded to Excel for further analysis (e.g. calculating rates or comparing multiple areas). More advanced queries can be built using the site's tools and most tables can be viewed as graphs, allowing easy comparison of temporal changes.

Teaching ideas:

Useful data for use in the classroom includes resident population, economic activity, hours worked, employment by occupation, qualifications and benefit claims - all broken down by age and sex.

The site is most useful for KS5 students comparing neighbourhoods, health, quality of life and economic activity as part of Population, Health or Urban units, and could be combined with primary data collection or field observations to profile small areas. Data could be downloaded to Excel for students to carry out analysis/comparisons with other areas.

Be aware of:

You may need to download Adobe SVG Viewer (free) for the graphs to display on some web browsers.

Reviewed by: Andy Newing, May 2011

Old Bailey Online

Web address:   www.oldbaileyonline.org
Keywords:         GIS, Crime, London, Urban Geography,
                             Location
Key stages:       KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

• A large database of historical crimes which were prosecuted at the Old Bailey in London
• The crimes are described and plotted on a variety of historic maps of London
• The database may be searched in many ways to show patterns of different crimes

Teaching ideas:

This is a fascinating database which can be used in a variety of ways. It is probably best to focus on one specific area or crime. Are some areas more prone to one specific crime - why? Where did most of the murders take place? Why? Is it the same now? Why? Why not? A great opportunity for creativity!

Be aware of:

This is a complex and sophisticated database which is best used after a demonstration. It has a powerful search facility and several different historic maps of London can be selected for the data to be plotted onto. Test the site on your school network before using it to see how long it takes to load. Beware that transcripts of crimes are in the language used at the time.

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, February 2011

OS getamap

Web address:    www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap
Keywords:          Interactive, Scale, Map
Key stages:        KS2, KS3

Brief description:

OS getamap is the new online map application from the Ordnance Survey which helps you to plan your outdoor activities. Getamap has many functions including: Create your own walking, cycling, and running routes; Swap between views of OS Explorer maps, OS Landranger maps, satellite and new Zoom-map; Zoom in and out of maps; Print, save and share maps and much more.

Once you've made a route you can get estimated timings, elevation (height profile) and view waypoint information. You can also add your own markers for points of interest and add text and photos to every waypoint along your route.

Teaching ideas:

Useful for planning fieldwork in new areas, working with Digimaps and testing out new areas before getting class sets. Set individual mapping and fieldwork activities or joint activities with other schools.

Be aware of:

This is very different from the old Getamap service

Guest - you can quickly get a flavour of what OS getamap has to offer for free including: searching and viewing Ordnance Survey maps online, weather, news, things to do and driving directions.

Registered - is also free, but allows you to create, save and share your walking, cycling and running routes, print them in A4 size for £2.49, add markers, import/export your routes with a Garmin device and buy ready-made authored routes. We recommend becoming a registered user to see more of what OS getamap can do.

Subscriber - by taking out an annual subscription you get access to everything that OS getamap can do, and also unlimited free A4 printing of OS Explorer Maps and OS Landranger Maps*, customised route styling, the ability to add waypoint photos, plus a full-screen view of the map window. A years access to OS getamap is just £19.99!

You are prompted to install Silverlight viewer if not already installed.

Reviewed by: Rachel Bowles, December 2011

Police.uk

Web address:    www.police.uk
Keywords:          GIS, Crime, Location, Urban Geography,
                              UK
Key stages:        KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

• This is a simple database which plots different types of crime from an area to a street level
• Individual locations are not plotted to safeguard identity
• A postcode is entered into the opening screen from which a map of the area selected is displayed with the different types of crime tabulated

Teaching ideas:

Compare various urban areas against each other or compare urban and rural areas in terms of different types of crime. The data can be collected and related to the factors that might promote a specific crime in an area - what are these factors? How can these crimes be prevented?

You could look at crime rates where the students live or in the area around your school.

Use Google Street View to add an extra dimension to your explorations.

Be aware of:

This is an easy to use GIS database. Be prepared with some 'good' postcodes e.g. Baker Street London - NW1 6XE, Downing Street SW1 2AA and some other examples collected in advance. Check how fast you can access the website on your school network.

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, February 2011

Poodlewaddle

Web address:    www.poodwaddle.com
Keywords:          Demography, Population, Data, Disease,
                              Change, Time, Calculators, Health
Key stage:          KS3, KS4 and above

Brief description:

This dashboard site is a gateway to many resources from world clocks and earth clocks to the number of people being born and crimes being committed. It is an ideal starting point and encourages students to ask a variety of questions about data, how it is sourced and how accurate it might be. It produces some astounding statistics most of which are shown by clocks. The site also provides tools such as calculators, countdown clocks, temperature converters etc.

Teaching ideas:

This resource has a changing focus so needs to be checked regularly for changes. The 'birth clock' can be started at the beginning of a lesson, then minimised and checked at the end of the lesson. Different types of mortality can be contrasted between different regions of the world. Just to have the world clock displayed often creates many questions.

Be aware of:

View and research the site and the materials with some care before using them - some of the materials will be unsuitable for educational use others just what you were looking for!

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, March 2012

San Francisco Crimespotting

Web address:    sanfrancisco.crimespotting.org
Keywords:          GIS, Crime, Location, Urban Geography,
                              San Francisco, USA
Key stages:        KS3, KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

• This GIS tool is a large sophisticated database of crimes that have occurred in the city of San Francisco in the USA
• The data/crimes can be searched and plotted
• Different crimes, days of the week and times of day can be selected and plotted to examine patterns of different types of crime relating to different areas of the city

Teaching ideas:

This is a fascinating, sophisticated and yet very accessible database that can be used to examine the distribution of different types of crime. This can then be related to other factors such as the location of key police stations, density of population and economic and social conditions. It is a good resource which promotes students to try to explain the distribution of different types of crime and to test ideas as to when different types of crime occur. 

Be aware of:

Although easy to use, this is a complex and sophisticated database and is best used after a demonstration - dates and times can be selected as well as different crimes and crime reports. Check how fast you can access the website on your school network.

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, February 2011

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games

Web address:   sochi2014.com/en/
Keywords:         Sochi, Olympic Games, Winter,
                             Settlement, Planning, Sport, Environment
Key stages:       KS3, KS4 and above

Brief description:

This site contains up to date news items about the development of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic site and its development - the facilities are not only to be used by the Winter Olympics in 2014. The website contains some interactive GIS maps under the Venues tab plus press reports and clips. This is an interesting development and can be contrasted with other Olympic developments from different parts of the world.

Teaching ideas:

This resource, like many, has a changing focus so needs to be checked regularly for new clips and ideas. Students could use the interactive map to assess the impact on the economy, environment and community of each of the Olympic developments. There are two distinct sites being developed, one in Sochi itself and another in the nearby mountains and a new link is being built between the two. Students may wish to produce their own electronic map of the impact of the developments under different headings or to record the possible views of the inhabitants.

Be aware of:

View and research the site and the materials with some care before using them - some of the materials will be unsuitable for educational use while others will be just what you were looking for!

Reviewed by: Peter Fox, March 2012

Social Contact Survey

Web address:    www.contactsurvey.org
Keywords:          Connections, Visualisation, Health,
                              Disease, Social Interactions
Key stages:        KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

This is a project based around developing an understanding of patterns of social interactions, which will help researchers better predict and control the spread of infections (such as pandemic 'flu). The project is undertaking a large-scale survey (and analysis of the results) in an attempt to understand patterns of human mixing. In turn this will lead to a better understanding of the numbers of contacts that could lead to the spread of infection, and therefore allow us to better predict (and therefore offer better advice for controlling) future epidemics.

You can complete the survey which takes about ten minutes. The survey uses tick type boxes and bi polar range choices.

Teaching ideas:

The site could be used to see how students connect with each other and to show interactions and/or to investigate the concept of six degrees of separation.

The resource also has maths and science uses particularly looking into why and how research is carried out.

There is also a teacher's section including student based activities.

Be aware of:

The data is anonymised so there should be less safeguarding issues.

It can take a time to complete the questionnaire.

Interpreting the data from the network chart can be difficult although the bar chart is easier.

Reviewed by: Bob Lang, December 2011

TED

Web address:    www.ted.com
Keywords:          Talks, Podcasts, Technology,
                              Entertainment, Design
Key stages:        KS4, Post-16, 18+

Brief description:

TED is a non-profit devoted to 'Ideas Worth Spreading'. It started in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: technology, entertainment and design. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

The award-winning TEDTalks video site brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or less. More than 900 TEDTalks are now available, with more added each week. All of the talks are subtitled in English, and many are subtitled in various languages. These videos are released under a Creative Commons license, so they can be freely shared and reposted.

The website provides a wealth of talks that can be used in many different ways. The 18 minute format means from an educational point of view they are concise and can be put into many different school lesson lengths fairly easily. There is a great range of geographical themed videos including talks by Professor Hans Rosling of Gapminder and Al Gore.

Teaching ideas:

There are many topics you could use TED resources in. The clips are good for getting students engaged in critical thinking or considering topics from a philosophical point of view.

You could use the TEDTalks format in class but perhaps with a shorter time than their standard 18 minutes. This would be useful for EPQ type presentations, for students who are developing an interest in a particular subject or for university interview preparation.

You could even look at the TEDx events and consider planning an event yourself.

Be aware of:

Talks are continually being uploaded.

Ensure you watch them before you show them to your pupils as there can be a range of topics and language used.

Make sure TED isn't blocked by your school's security settings.

Reviewed by: Bob Lang, December 2011

UMapper

Web address:    www.umapper.com
Keywords:          Visualisation, Map, Data, Analysis
Key stages:        KS3, KS4

Brief description:

An easy to use web-based visualisation tool that allows students to add information to high resolution base mapping and aerial photography. Students can add points, lines and polygons, measure distance and carry out simple analysis by drawing 'buffers'.  

An excellent tool for introducing the skills and understanding that students require when using GIS - including types of data (points, lines, polygons), and the concept of layering.

The site can be applied to a variety of contexts and areas of the curriculum (see below), and can also be used by students to create maps for inclusion in enquiries and assessed work. 

Teaching ideas:

Students can add points, lines and polygons to the base map for a variety of investigations:

Points: Could be used to pinpoint specific locations, e.g. students carry out a survey at a particular facility to identify its sphere of influence - points added to the map could be colour-coded based on purpose of respondents visit, age group, total spend etc.

Lines: Can be used to record routes, e.g. students record their routes to school and colour-code the line according the mode of transport used.

Polygons: An excellent tool for students to mark out areas, e.g. land use mapping.

Analysis can be carried out visually (e.g. describe pattern of students journey to school, compare land use map to land use models) or by using the 'buffer' tool.

Be aware of:

Students must input a title for each map but it is not necessary to register.

Maps cannot be saved easily - students need to complete in one session and print or copy their map to an alternative location.

Reviewed by: Andy Newing, May 2011