Google Maps in the Math Classroom


Google Maps is a tool that I am well familiar with in my personal life. And for the most part, our relationship is a solid one. While I am not as dependent as my friend Elizabeth who I have witnessed ignoring physical road signs in favor of Google’s imprecise directions, Google Maps navigates me from point A to point B on most every occasion. (We will excuse that one alarming time that it turned me down a rural road in Italy that was in fact not a road and nearly got my tiny rental car stranded deep in dirt and gravel.) From mapping the best route to providing traffic and travel time data to locating gas stations to offering reviews on restaurants and coffee shops and much more, it is a helpful and frequently consulted tool in my car.


But what about in the classroom? Educator Neil Jarrett (2016) offers five broad ways Google Maps can be applied to a school setting:

  • Descriptive writing of scenes and settings

  • Mapping, creating routes and tutorials

  • Use it to inspire some artwork

  • Conducting virtual field trips

  • Go on a scavenger hunt  

As a math educator, how does it apply to me? How can I use a resource like Google Maps to enhance mathematical learning? According to Nora S. Newcombe, a professor of psychology at Temple University and the principal investigator of the Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center, “higher spatial ability predicts interest and success in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)” and “teachers can help students strengthen their ability to learn spatially and benefit from studying visualizations such as maps and graphs” (Newcombe, 2013). Google Maps, with its quick and easy access to map data from anywhere in the world, is a great tool for promoting spatial understanding. In addition, Google Maps can be used to examine real world locations and travel scenarios by applying mathematical measurements, ratios, scale factors, and calculations. There are so many possibilities for all levels of math education. There are the practical questions. How can we calculate the amount and cost of gasoline needed for a trip to the beach? How can we determine the area of a city block? And there are the whimsical and fun. How many different Starbucks locations can you visit on a single tank of gas? What is the shortest time it could take to make a New York to LA cross-country trip using at least four different types of transportation?


Google maps offers so many features beyond basic driving directions. (Dove, 2020) It contains floor plans for certain buildings, train stations, and airports. It allows you to choose your mode of transportation and has data related to public transport timetables. It calculates mileage, tells you what is nearby, allows you to save favorite locations, and more. You can plan a multi-stop trip and compare different routes. All of its plethora of features can enhance the experience both when navigating on the road and when simulating a scenario in the classroom.


There are many advantages to using Google Maps in the math classroom. First of all, it is practical, real-world, and fun. The students can take a tool that they use in their car on a regular basis and use it to apply the math concepts they are learning to real life scenarios. As mentioned above, it also supports spatial development as it relates numerical values and dimensions to the visual image. Google Maps allows students to develop many of the required skills outlined in The Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2000), including measurement, data analysis, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, and representation. All of these important aspects of mathematical development can be achieved through projects using this powerful tool. Since it is a Google product, Maps also features sharing of location data which allows for collaborative work among students and builds that important twenty-first century skill.


With advantages come disadvantages. As with any piece of technology, there is a learning curve associated with Google Maps, and we must allocate time for students to familiarize themselves with the tool and its many capabilities that will apply to the project at hand. In addition, any time we are asking students to use their devices, we must use caution that they are using them appropriately and not as a distraction.


Despite the potential challenges, Google Maps is a tool that I would recommend for math teachers to create fun, real-world problems that develop spatial skills and apply all kinds of mathematical concepts in a creative and relevant setting.



References


Dove, Jackie (2020, June 23).How to Use Google Maps. Digital Trends.  

     https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-use-google-maps/


Jarrett, Neil. (2016, July 28).  Engaging Students Through Google Maps. Edutopia. 

     https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/engaging-students-through-google-maps


National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 2000. Principles and Standards for School  

     Mathematics. Reston, Virginia: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.


Newcombe, N. S. (2013). Seeing Relationships: Using Spatial Thinking to Teach Science,   

     Mathematics, and Social Studies. American Educator, 37(1), 26-40.


Patterson, T.C. (2007) Google Earth as a (Not Just) Geography Education Tool, Journal of 

     Geography, 106:4, 145-152, DOI: 10.1080/00221340701678032 

Comments

  1. Ms. AndersonJuly 25, 2020 at 11:51 AM

    Thank you so much for your very informative post! Before reading your blog, I didn't know much about Google Maps besides the fact you can use it as a GPS. I think it's really cool that it has more features to it than just helping people get from one destination to the next. It seems Google Maps can and does provide students with many learning opportunities. I didn't realize how detailed Google Maps can be, especially for assignments in the classroom. Thanks for an awesome read!
    -Nicole

    ReplyDelete

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