Geotagging+in+the+Classrrom

=**Geotagging in the Classroom**= by: Josie Finley

According to Techopedia, "Geotagging is the process of adding geographical information to various media in the form of metadata. The data usually consists of coordinates like latitude and longitude, but may even include bearing, altitude, distance and place names."

Geotagging is the newest Web 2.0 tool available to educators to improve students geo-literacy. [|Geo-literacy]is the ability to make decisions based on an understanding of geography. Students who are geo-literate are able to understand how humans interact with each other and the environment, they can make connections and inferences about locations, and they can use this knowledge predict possible outcomes caused by decisions they might make. So many of the problems this generation will face have their basis in geography- from global warming and resource scarcity to the rise of China as both a fierce competitor and a necessary ally, we need to nurture a strong geographical understanding of the world in our students. Geotagging is one way this can be accomplished.

Geotagging is a tool that can cross disciplines. Science students can take pictures, categorize, and tag images of plants from their community. English classes can create Lit Trips by tagging maps to show the characters' travels throughout the book. Students of history can tag pictures of major battles to the location they were fought. Geography students can tag a world map with photos of different types of homes people live in. Younger students can geotag important places in their community to help them understand the layout of their town and increase their spatial understanding. The options for geotagging are as limitless as one's imagination. Every time a students looks at a map and can build a connection to the people and environment there, they are increasing their geo-literacy. Just like with reading, this is a skill they will have to repeatedly practice in a multitude of ways and formats in order to become proficient.

Here are some websites which will allow you to create geotagged maps with your students:
Google Maps: @https://maps.google.com/ A google account to log in. Once logged in, users can create individual world and local maps that have been tagged with pictures, descriptions, and/or icons.

Flckr: @http://www.flickr.com/ This is a photo sharing site which allows users to tag the location their photos were taken at. It requires users to have a log in.

Sources:
Edelson, D. PhD. (March 2011). Geo-Literacy: Preparationf for Far Reaching Decisions. National Geographic- Education. Retrieved June 6, 2012. []