A New Tool for Students and Teachers
We are pleased to announce a new addition to the National Geographic MapMaker app — the Interactive Compass Tool. Responding to one of the most common requests from educators, this feature displays the four cardinal points (North, East, South, and West) directly on the map interface, making navigation and learning more straightforward.
Why the Compass Tool Matters
The Compass Tool has been developed with younger learners in mind. As students start to explore geography, understanding the cardinal points is a basic skill. With the compass visible on the map, it becomes easier for teachers to explain directions and for students to visualize their location relative to these points.
Improved Usability for Touch Screens
Touch screen devices are increasingly used in classrooms. The Compass Tool addresses a common challenge: when a map is rotated, it can be difficult to identify which way is north. With this feature, users can see the current orientation and quickly reset the map to point north with a single tap. This helps keep maps intuitive and easy to use, even during interactive lessons.
See It In Action
Take a look video demonstration below that illustrates the Compass Tool’s functionality. The compass updates as the map rotates, showing the new direction. Teachers and students can rotate the map toward any cardinal point, and easily reset it to north, making spatial awareness and map reading more accessible.
Supporting Learning and Exploration
The Compass Tool serves as a navigation aid and a teaching resource that encourages hands-on learning. Whether guiding students through a lesson on world geography or exploring local landmarks, this feature helps make the MapMaker app more useful for classrooms.
This is version one of the compass tool and currently only works on the 2D map. We would love you to try out this new tool and share your feedback with us via mapmaker@esri.com.
