They're also graphically dull and multimedia poor. Sandals Atlas has a tremendous wealth of photos and videos to illustrate sermons and lessons when projected using a data projector. Dr. Hulbert's extended articles get behind the stories and often examine how geography played a role in the stories. The writing is crisp. Locations are clickable.
Maps are a visual means of representing and organizing information.
Their visuals are hooks to hang information in brain. Maps give the brain a visual path through a story, helping to sequence the events and retell them. Many of us think of the Exodus story with a map in our head of their journey. Images of various locations are connected to nameplaces and help trigger more memories. Good interactive maps on the computer turn information into something like a scavenger hunt.