What are StoryMaps
How can I use them in Teaching?
What's a StoryMap
ArcGIS StoryMaps is a story authoring web-based application that allows you to share your maps in the context of narrative text and other multimedia content.
This digital storytelling tool uses a single, flexible content builder where you can add maps, text, photos, audio, timelines and videos to create an interactive story that’s easy to publish and share. They work on a variety of screen sizes and are hosted on a web-based platform in the cloud created by the StoryMapsTeam at Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute), an international supplier of geographic information system (GIS) software, web GIS and geodatabase management applications.
- Author stories with the story builder. Stories can include maps, narrative text, lists, images, videos, embedded items, and other media.
- Publish and share your stories. Published stories each have their own URL, and you can use these URLs to share your stories within your organization, to specific groups, or with everyone.
- Create and publish collections. Collections can include stories and ArcGIS web apps bundled together for easy sharing and presenting.
Full Disclosure: this is a StoryMap !
StoryMaps are fast loading, easy sharing, and aesthetically pleasing. They are also easy to design and easy to create. Popular uses of a StoryMaps is for education, public engagement, activism, presentations, personal narratives, online guides and atlases, catalogues, crowdsourcing, portfolios, projects, tutorials and resumes.
Why teach and learn
(with StoryMaps)
- Provide an engaging, rich way to teach content
- Foster technical skills: computer, multimedia (media fluency), data
- Foster problem solving
- Foster critical and spatial thinking
- Foster skills in organization, ethics, permissions
- Foster communication skills - digital, written, and oral
- Assessment instruments
- Tools that support research
Ways to use StoryMaps in education
- Teach content using existing story maps
- Create your own story maps to summarize a hands-on activity, research project, field work, etc
- As a key component in STEM courses (also sociology, geography, history, environmental studies, design, computer science, ... and more)
StoryMap Basics
Yes these are either links to a StoryMap or an 'embedded' StoryMap
Stories that resonate
StoryMaps helps you tell remarkable stories that inform and inspire. A story can effect change, influence opinion, and create awareness—and maps are an integral part of storytelling. StoryMaps can give your narrative a stronger sense of place, illustrate spatial relationships, and add visual appeal and credibility to your ideas.
StoryMaps helps you tell remarkable stories
ArcGIS StoryMaps: Just the Basics
Here are some basic informational resources on ArcGIS StoryMaps.
Notice on the side car top you can select from 9 different stories by using the arrows
Discover StoryMaps
Step-by-step instructions and videos on how to create your first story map.
Getting Started with StoryMaps
Looking to create your first story? Here's a basic guide to using the ArcGIS StoryMaps builder.
Bit.ly/GetStartedSM
Teaching & Learning with StoryMaps
Ready to make better stories? See what it takes to craft a strong narrative, then get a crash course in bringing your content to life. If you want to dive deeper, we've assembled a variety of helpful tutorials, videos, articles, and more, so you can take your mapmaking skills to the next level.
ArcGIS StoryMaps (8 min video)
Start with a great story
Start by planning
The first step to storytelling isn't building, it's prepping. Take time to think through key decisions, like who's your ideal reader? What do you want them to learn? Think about how you'll use photos and maps to underscore main points.
Outlining your story can be a huge help here.
Don't make your StoryMap a SorryMap
CLUES to a great story
Anyone can make a map and a story, but not everyone can make an engaging story. Here are the CLUES to help you!
CLUES to a great Story
- Connect with your audience
- Lead people in
- User experience supports the story
- Easy to read — Easy to use
- Strive for simplicity
Connect
- step back and explain things
- avoid jargon
- informal but respectful
Lead
- start with a bang
- organize with navigation, titles, headings & subheadings
- use active and descriptive titles, headings & subheadings
User Experience
- choose apps, activities, flow that match the story and your intention
- plan, plan, plan because you cannot change templates mid-stream
- did I say plan and organize?
Easy to read
- do not have competing context
- avoid visually complexity with symbols, icons, activities or interactions
Strive for Simplicity
- digital media = ADHD
- making it simple takes time
A little technical advice
Organize & manage your content, use folders to help organize Give context of where & when your story happens Keep tabs on tabs, how many tabs have you opened, where are you logged in Model good practice of the permitted use of web and imagery Be mindful of image size and content
Teaching Research with StoryMaps
Teaching Research with StoryMaps
Lesson Examples
GPS 101
Teacher Essential Program Storymap for Technology in Teaching
Assessing GPS Accuracy
Be Aware, Park with Care: Winnipeg Parking Infractions
Using StoryMaps as a Geography Lesson Driver
Student Examples
Presentations
Satellite Imaging Platforms & Systems
School Site Selection
ACC Sights (no sounds!) Tour
Portfolios
ArcGIS StoryMaps for Communication
Public Education & Galleries
Manitoba: Canoeing the Manigotagan (I helped build the interactive webmaps that help with the story! https://mben.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Embed/index.html?webmap=a63557c9a5474a1695804b7735c2af77&extent=-96.3662,51.0026,-95.9872,51.1421&zoom=true&scale=true&legendlayers=true&disable_scroll=true&theme=dark )
Budgeting carbon Canadian Arctic
Audio tour of Montana’s major ecosystems
ESRI Classic Storymap Gallery
ESRI New Storymap Gallery
Even a Quiz
As a link
As a QR (for mobile)
As an embed
Favorite Brandon Restaurant
