Map making companies must give more than just a picture

A globe helps a student understand the fact that the earth is round...this is good, although there still seems to be a few that were daydreaming during that lesson and eventually end up on the Flat Earth Society forums in their developing years.  But besides that concept and the study of outer space, what else are globes used for in the subject of geography?  The location of countries?  nothing a wall map or even computer software cannot provide these days.

As a matter of fact, with the rise of GPS, Google Earth, and even map databases like David Rumsey that let's a student view maps from 100 to 200 years ago, geography has exploded in the past 10 years alone.  Just to think, ten years ago we were still looking at paper maps and asking for directions.  Now, the man that had too much pride to stop and ask for directions doesn't think twice about letting the smooth-talking GPS lady lead the way.  Even iPhone apps are supplying our geography needs.  Now we have a globe in our pockets on a little screen (At the time of this post the Flat Earth Society has still not yet released an iPhone app).

So what does this mean for the education realm and for companies that provide tools for education?  It seems that outside of primary schools, a customer need for physical items like wall maps, transparencies, and globes is becoming an unnecessary expenditure.  Online sources on the other hand never become obsolete, they are simply updated from the server side.  They don't need to be carried around.  They don't receive wear and tear.  They don't need to be purchased more than once.  They can be brought to a student's home computer if they are needed to be used for homework.

In order to stay in business, it sounds like map making companies will have to provide something more than just a picture with some borders and lines to stay in business.  Pre-1995, this was how map-making companies made money.  After all, that's all anyone knew since the capacity for information exchange and its availability was nothing compared to today's capability.

So then, what will make a school actually spend money if they can receive all of this information for free already on applications like Google Earth?  Today they will have to add value to their product, something that an educator cannot get for free, and something that will undoubtedly improve grades, excitement, and understanding on the topic at hand.  Information, knowledge, comprehension all must be provided as solutions that will engage, intrigue, and challenge the student.  Instead of lecturing at the students with the materials, the tool must grow with the students by not only letting them take control of the learning process but also by empowering them with enough success to be excited about learning the world around us.