I think I would feel pretty confident with helping someone use StoryMaps. I had used it prior for one of my classes, and I felt pretty confident with using it this week. That being said, I do think that there is more for me to explore, and I will most likely try some of StoryMaps’s other features when I have the time. I feel like StoryMaps is one of the more intuitive tools that I have learned how to use so far, not only because I had some prior experience with it, but also because it is very user friendly in how different elements are located. I especially like how you are able to integrate different widgets, such as videos, images, and maps, within your text blurbs. As far as the limitations of StoryMaps goes, it felt as if there were a limited amount of customization options, when it came to changing how the layout looked, and it felt like cropping the images was kind of inconvenient.
I think that what makes a good StoryMap is intentional design, where all the elements work together to help support the StoryMap’s narrative. Something to avoid would be the temptation to use all the features available, which can create a cluttered and confusing experience for a viewer. Instead, sometimes less can be more, and it’s better sometimes to focus more on what you’re trying to tell rather than what the software can do.