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)

  1. Provide an engaging, rich way to teach content
  2. Foster technical skills: computer, multimedia (media fluency), data
  3. Foster problem solving
  4. Foster critical and spatial thinking
  5. Foster skills in organization, ethics, permissions
  6. Foster communication skills - digital, written, and oral
  7. Assessment instruments
  8. Tools that support research

Ways to use StoryMaps in education

  1. Teach content using existing story maps
  2. Create your own story maps to summarize a hands-on activity, research project, field work, etc
  3. 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

Creative Communication Ideas

 https://arcg.is/1iyGr1  (opens in new window)

Public Education & Galleries

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

Developed by Steven Hills

hillssc@assiniboine.net

StoryMaps helps you tell remarkable stories

Notice on the side car top you can select from 9 different stories by using the arrows