Written by Microsoft Learning Consultant, Liz Wilson 

To ensure we engage our students in Maths, it is essential to build real-life problems into our lessons. Not only does this aid our students’ engagement, but it also shows them how they can use the new concepts that they learn in their own lives. Maths is all around us – as I am typing I can see countless shapes, angles, patterns and sequences – but for teachers to collate such examples and build them into their lessons can be extremely time consuming. One great tool to help save time and provide high quality, real life maths is the Maps app in Windows 10. 

Maps comes free as part of Windows 10. You can easily find it by typing ‘Maps’ into the Search bar or finding it in your list of apps. It has been designed to support and benefit from digital inking. By selecting the inking icon at the top right-hand corner, you will open the inking toolbar. This provides some fantastic tools including a ballpoint pen (with a variety of colours), a rubber, a ruler and – my favourite – the ability to measure a distance. 

Through being able to digitally ink straight ono the map, this allows both teachers and students to be able to explore the world around them in a new way. They can explore the maps to discover angles and shapes and mark these immediately. Through using the share feature, these markings can easily be sent through email or directly into a OneNote document!  

The measure a distance tool allows you to digitally ink straight onto the map. It will then automatically measure the distance you have drawn and bring this up next to your inked line. This is fantastic to use in lessons to provide real-life measures and problems. Why not ask your students to suggest different routes and mark these onto the map in different colours? Whose route is the shortest? How much by? Can you use the ruler to work out the distance if you flew in a straight line? The mathematical possibilities that can be produced instantly are tremendous and all are clearly routed in real life, engaging students in their learning. 

So why not explore maps yourself and see how many examples of real life maths you can find? 

Looking to find out more? 

If you would like to find out more about what Windows 10 has to offer, complete the ‘Windows 10: Create a world of tomorrow in your classroom!’ course on the Microsoft Educator Community and earn a new badge!