Quick menu - click on the above images

To use the Google Map Gadget to create interactive maps based on a collaborative spreadsheet, do the following: 

1. In Google Docs use the file menu to create a new spreadsheet.
2. In the spreadsheet create two columns, label with a name like "Location" and the other column something like "Setting."
3. In the first column enter either the address or the latitude and longitude of the your location to add to your classmap (ex. "28.6402, -81025887" or "111 First Street, Mount Dora, Florida 32791").
4. In the next column will be the information about the student or class member, this will be displayed as a tooltip, meaning that either when the mouse hovers over the map point or when the map point is click the information from this column is displayed. This information could include their name, group assignment, the name of their location or school  (ex. "Terry Cavanaugh" or "Terry Cavanaugh, Fletcher High School") 
5. If the spreadsheet is complete then highlight the cells that have the data, if the map is to be made open for others to add then just highlight the first cells entered.
6. Next go to the Insert menu and select the option to add a Gadget.
7. In the Add a Gadget window, select the option for Maps, and then select the Map By Google by clicking on the button labeled Add to spreadsheet. 
8. The map gadget menu should now be on your spreadsheet. In the Range field set the range to be able to include all the possible data. For example your spreadsheet may only have one set of example data that you highlighted so the range may currently state "Sheet1!A1:B2", then adjust the range to include the number of classmap points that you wish to add, such as "Sheet1!A1:B25", which would allow for 24 student map entries to be added to the spreadsheet and displayed on the map. You can always go back and adjust the range of your Map Gadget. 
9. In the Title field, create a title for your map, depending on the purpose of your classmap, this could be the title of the course or the project name.
10. For the Map type use the drop down to select the kind of bookmap display desired (normal, satellite, or hybrid)
11. Now click the Apply button to see the map on the spreadsheet. If you like how the bookmap looks then press the Apply and close button.

The classmap can be published onto a different webpage or course site. Use the down arrow on the Map gadget's bar to select the desired option.

To make the map collaborative you have a few choices: you can either use a form for data entry or set the spreadsheet itself to being collaborative. 

With you classmap spreadsheet open do the following:

To have your spreadsheet be set for collaboration do the following:

1. With your bookmap's spreadsheet displayed click on the Share button.
2. Depending on the level of openness for collaboration you will either select one of two options: 1) Invite people... to have only a selected number of people invited to participate or 2) Get the link to share... to make the bookmap fully open to anyone. 
3. Using the Invite people...  option  you will list the email addresses of those you wish to invite to add information to the spreadsheet. For example if a class or group of students working from a text, then you could add all their email address to the Invite list in the Share with others window. 
4. With the Get the link to share... option, a new pop-up window will display. Select the option to Allow anyone with the link to view and then put a check in the box for Also allow them to edit. Copy the link information to either add to your own web space or send by email. Then click on the Save and Close button.
5. Now on your class or school website post the link for the students to use to get to the bookmap to be able to add their own data.