How can we effectively explain the past using maps?

Learning goals:

Student will be able to:

  1. use ArcGIS StoryMaps to link historical metadata to geographic metadata.

  2. demonstrate how to link different types of digital information (images, text, and GIS data) to explain the past.

  3. use metadata to describe an image.

  4. analyze how an image can contextualize our understanding of the past [This is the most important learning goal].

  5. publish a StoryMap to the web

1. Navigate to https://storymaps.arcgis.com

Navigate to https://storymaps.arcgis.com
Navigate to https://storymaps.arcgis.com

2. Create a public account.

Create a public account.
Create a public account.

3. Click on Create a Story, either the upper right button or on the green button.

Click on Create a Story, either the upper right button or on the green button.
Click on Create a Story, either the upper right button or on the green button.

4. Return to your readings for this week.

Readings for Week 5

Find an image from a credible website that has strong metadata that relates to Babylon, the Code of Hammurabi, or the Ramayana.

  1. Give your StoryMap a title related to your image.

  2. Add your image.

Keep in mind that you need to know if your image contains an original historical artifact or a copy, what credible institution is hosting the image, and who owns the rights to display the image.

I have chosen a 1605 CE image of the death of Rama’s father, from an exhibit at the Met Museum in New York that runs until August 2020.

Return to your readings for this week.
Return to your readings for this week.

5. Click on properties.

Click on properties.
Click on properties.

6. Add a simple alternate text description, along with the phrase “for educational purposes only.”

Alternate text on images is important metadata and allows all individuals, including those who are image impaired, to access history on the web.

We are claiming no rights to use any pictures, and are only using pictures we find for education purposes, which is fair use.

Click save

Add a simple alternate text description, along with the phrase "for educational purposes only."
Add a simple alternate text description, along with the phrase "for educational purposes only."

7. Select “tell your story” to add a map.

Select "tell your story" to add a map.
Select "tell your story" to add a map.

8. Select map.

Select map.
Select map.

9. Select create an express map.

Select create an express map.
Select create an express map.

10. Select an area tool.

Chose either the draw an area or draw an area freehand tools and create an area that encompasses where your the object in your image was created.

Select an area tool.
Select an area tool.

11. Here is my rough area of the Indian subcontinent.

Here is my rough area of the Indian subcontinent.
Here is my rough area of the Indian subcontinent.

12. Add a paragraph box.

In your paragraph box, generate a list of metada of at least 6 for your image. Metadata is not neutral, so please consider what gets included and excluded. If I wanted to focus on the history of art, I might make a list such as: 17th century, watercolor, paper, 10 inch height, 5 inch width, patterns, India, fashion, and gold.

If I were to focus on the society producing the image, I might write: Mughal, Akbar (emperor), king, Vedas, Hinduism, family life, death, clothes, architecture. Both lists are accurate.

Following your metadata list, write a paragraph analyzing what your image tells us about the society that produced it.

Add a paragraph box.
Add a paragraph box.

13. Publish your map to the web by sharing it in the upper right hand corner.

Publish your map to the web by sharing it in the upper right hand corner.
Publish your map to the web by sharing it in the upper right hand corner.

14. Copy the link to your StoryMap and place it in the Exhibit 5 discussion board.

Copy the link to your StoryMap and place it in the Exhibit 5 discussion board.
Copy the link to your StoryMap and place it in the Exhibit 5 discussion board.