Google Maps is a useful tool in educational environments. Through a visual presentation, a map can provide a lot of information quickly. For example, a map could  show nuclear power plants in any state area. The bubble will show active or inactive status and number of nuclear waste containers stored onsite. Pertinent contact information might include the local regulatory agency, congressmen and local groups with any concerns about the plants. These could be hyperlinked to websites for more information.

Google Maps has a great example called America's Highway: Oral Histories of Route 66. With the content derived from interviews, the map provides a quick, geographical assimilation of an important route in American history. A little browsing will yield at least an overview or outline of the period with more depth available in still a short time. Whole interviews are included in these bubbles - with links!

Students enjoy maps - both learning from them and learning how to present knowledge through them.

• Fly to your house. Just type in an address, press Search, and you’ll zoom right in.
• Search for schools, parks, restaurants, and hotels. Get driving directions.
• Tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings, or look up to explore the sky
• Save and share your searches and favorites.

Lulu.com is a place where people can publish a wide range of intellectual/creative materials and buy or sell many kinds of content. This site features novels (hard and soft covers), technical manuals, poetry, articles, photographs, animations, and content. Lulu.com helps people distribute information and art that span a wide range of subject matter. Lulu “users range from elementary school kids researching papers to grandparents writing memoirs, from companies publishing technical manuals to authors selling their first novels. Because of this wide market, they steer clear of content that might make the majority of users squirm.” Lulu’s output is not limited to print but also includes DVDs, eBooks, Downloads of music, brochures, calendars, photo books, yearbooks, digital media and what ever else you can think-up.

• <>Students that want a place to publish their creative work.
• Schools to publish brochures and other public relation items.
• Artists to publish their work in many formats
• Buying and selling your creative resources

Signing up is easy.