So here we already have two very fundamental tasks that can be done in the SL language and have our students use technology.
- Ask your students to find a specific location in a country, and send you the address they found. Better yet, ask them to send you an audio link (in audio pal) to describe where they are going in the language. If you have a blog or a wiki you can post their work, and give examples and models yourself!
- Select a starting point and a destination point and challenge your students to find both on google maps. Then ask them to write in their own words (not the directions given by google) how to get from one place to the other, in relative and specific direction terms.
- Same as the previous point, ask your students to leave a message for you on how to get from A to B using audio pal.
So these are pretty simple but cool ideas to use google maps. Remember that all google interfaces can be set to a specific language - so there is a lot of vocabulary practice that goes on while students work on that.But the coolest thing yet I have tried and set up activities on in Google Maps is the ORANGE GUY! yes! The orange guy! If a google map has the orange guy, you can take the guy anywhere on that map and you will see the full photos of that place in 360 degrees mode. This sets itself perfectly for the description of major landmarks in the language.
Create written description challenges and/or audio challenges and set up tests for your students to complete. They will really be engaged with this task.
To learn more bout an example check this wiki page: Google Maps
