Welcome back!
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This week I am covering digital mapping. Specifically, ways mapping can be included in lectures and a quick tutorial on using the platform MapBox. Let’s get started!
As we all know, maps are a great visual when it comes to understanding where you are, where people are going, etc. There is not a day that goes by where I do not consult the almighty Apple Maps when trying to find where I am going. But besides trying to find a new coffee shop, maps are great tools that can help students in class. Since these are visuals, maps are great for understanding military history to diasporas. By including a map of the event you are lecturing about, students are able to follow along with the lecture with ease. When I was younger, I had trouble in some of my history classes when we talked about wars. Trying to connect where Paul Revere was going without an actual visual to connect the information to was difficult. By including maps into lectures, not only are students able to follow along easier but accessibility to history is also enforced. This allows for students to have another tool in their toolkit for when it comes time for a quiz or test. As a result, students will want to stay engaged due to their needs for understanding material being met.
One of the easiest ways to incorporate maps into your lectures is through wars, for example, The American Civil War. People were traveling and moving near and far during this war, so naturally, trying to follow these campaigns can be difficult. An example inside an example would be using a map to highlight Sherman’s March to the Sea. By creating a digital map that can move with the lecture, students will be able to see the importance of his march to the Union’s goal of upending the Confederate economy. Besides including a map while war lectures, they can be great tools for discussing diasporas and migrations. An example of this would the Scottish Highlander migration out of Scotland to Canada between the late 18th century and 19th century during the Highland Clearances. By creating a digital map to connect to this information, students will be able to visually see the move out of Scotland into Canadian territory that will soon flourish with Scottish influences.
Now that you have an idea of what to create a map for, let’s talk about MapBox. MapBox is a free resource for those interested in creating maps for data research, navigation, travel, history, etc. On the home page, you are able to look through public maps, research developers and products, and create your own map. After clicking “Start mapping for free” you are then taken to a page to create your account or sign in. After your account is created, you are then taken to your map-creating dashboard. Here, you will continue to “Datasets” in order to plug in your data for your map. After clicking on “New dataset” you are then able to name your map. This will then take you to your map, where you will then plug in your data into the search bar at the top right corner. After plugging in your first location, simply mark the area with the point feature (found in the top left corner), add your data below the point feature, and name your point. After this, be sure to save! No one wants their information lost after spending a while on their project. After saving, you will then export your data in order for it to show up on your finished map. Once your first dataset is done, you will continue the process from “New dataset” to export until you’ve completed inputting all your data. The next step takes you to “Styles” where you will be able to design your map’s appearance. Once your are in the design studio, be sure to rename your map to what it is showing, such as Sherman’s March to the Sea or Scottish Highlander Migration. This portion of the design studio may seem scary at first, so play around with it until you’re comfortable. Once you’ve finished your map, you can then save and share your map link, and voila!
Whether you are using maps as a lecturing tool, study hack, or a fun project for your students to work on, knowing and understanding how to quickly create one for your students is a great tool to have when trying to create a more engaging classroom! If you have any questions or comments about today’s post, be sure to comment below or send a message via the contact page.
Until next time!
THE CAFFEINATED HISTORIAN 