Google+Tours

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=Google Earth or Google Maps????= Google tours can be created using either Google Earth or Google Maps and the files can be opened in either program as well. However, if you want to add movies to your placemarkers it must be done using Google Maps and for the tour to work on the iTouch or iPad the KMZ file must be on your Google Maps account in My Maps. With this in mind we will be creating your Google Tour in Google Maps.

=Google Maps= Tutorial "[|Getting Started Google Maps]"
 * Go to [|www.google.com]
 * Log into your account (the hardest part)
 * Go to "More" and "Maps"
 * Top left corner click "My Maps"
 * Top left click " Create new map"
 * Name your Google tour and add a description if you want
 * Now the fun begins

Add Placemarker

 * Click on [[image:Screen_shot_2010-11-03_at_8.25.21_PM.png]]in upper left corner of map to add a placemarker
 * Click your mouse on the map where you want the placemarker
 * A box now opens in which you will enter your content (pictures, movies, links, and text)

Adding Content to your Placemarker
The following documents and links are tutorials on how to add content to your placemarker.
 * [|Change placemark icon]
 * [|Add pictures to placemark]
 * Add text to placemarker
 * Type or copy and paste your text into the placemark description area
 * [|Add video to placemark]
 * Tip: Add video last
 * Add links to placemark
 * Copy and paste link into description box **or**
 * Highlight text click link icon (looks like two links in a chain) then copy and paste link in box that pops up

Basic HTML
You may want to use some HTML to format your content.
 * Bold 
 * Line Break
 * italic 
 * [|HTML cheat sheet] You probably won't need more, but if you do here are some more.

Share Your Map
To save your map as a KMZ or KML file you will need to open it in Google Earth. Once you have saved it as a KMZ or KML file you can put it on your website or your M: drive to open on other computers,
 * [|View your map in Google Earth]

Where do I find more?

 * Google search
 * search for your topic with KML or KMZ as part of your search
 * [|Google Lit Trips]
 * [|Google Earth community]
 * The Google Earth Community is found under Help>Google Earth Community. Within this community, you’ll find quick access to ready made graphs and locations. After creating a free login, simply type in the topic you’re after and download the .kmz files that you find. There’s even an entire area dedicated to education.