Andy Losik’s Islands of Geektopia

A great new tool that I have discovered is called Map A List and can be found at
http://mapalist.com/ . It basically mashes up any Google Spreadsheet
that contains location data (full addresses, cities, states, or merely
zip codes) with Google Maps.
During my recent presentation at the Michigan Macul Conference on
building literacy through Google maps and Lit Trips (part of my
Google Teacher Academy action plan), I asked attendees to fill out a simple Google form I
embedded into my presentation links page . All I wanted was their zip code.
When I was finished, this is  the spreadsheet that was generated.

I directed Map A List to it, and it quickly generated this map showing
where all had traveled from for the conference.

I have not used it extensively, so I can’t comment on how customizable
the maps are, but maps and forms linked together offer unbelievable
possibilities. Take your students’ addresses off of a spreadsheet
generated by your school’s data system. Upload it to Google Docs. Tell
Map A List about it and see exactly where all of your students live.
The major point I wanted to share at MACUL, was that the real point of
using technology in the classroom is to deepen understanding of a
subject matter. Map A List is definitely a tool that can help both
teachers and students make more sense out of location data.