Progress and Pitfalls in Community Mapping: Behaviors, Cognitions, and New Directions

Abstract

This paper discusses three student projects in urban mapmaking. The product of all the projects was student-generated urban maps which documented specific aspects of the city of Boston, including architectural elements, ecological conditions, and patterns of human movement and behavior. Cloud-based digital technology including GPS and manual geo-location of information and the use of social media as a tool to collect and share information were core components of these projects. The paper presents methodologies, results, and reflections on the student learning process and engagement that occurred through the creation of these maps, theorizing about how students could build on these processes to support the creative process.