ddd sent me this story from the New York Times about the proliferation of mapping tools. I've been working on some assignments using Google's new My Maps function and Flickr's geotagging.

There are probably infinite ways these tools can be used in writing classrooms, but the assignment I worked up involves having students map a border that shapes their own life. This assignment was inspired by the book that first-year writing students at UT will be reading this year, The Devil's Highway - a book that explores U.S./Mexico immigration policies. I've worked up an example map that explores a border in my own life (that border is I-35, the highway that divides "East Austin" from Austin) - I plan to use this as an example for students. You can see that map here.

Google's "My Maps" is really easy to use. All you need is a Google Account, and you can point and click your way to a pretty detailed map. You can embed video, images, and audio in maps, and you can draw shapes, insert markers, and draw lines. Very, very easy. I'm currently developing a workshop on mapping assignments for our CWRL orientation, so I'd love to hear about any ideas people have.