Rand McNally
Interactive learning is the focal point of these Flash-based history maps for Rand McNally’s subscription-based educational product, Rand McNally Classroom.
Better learning through interaction. That’s the approach Chicago-based map and atlas publisher Rand McNally took when they hired Mightybytes to create two and a half dozen interactive history maps for their subscription-based educational site, Rand McNally Classroom. Created in Flash, these maps cover a wide range of American and world history topics such as African independence, the Underground Railroad, WWII European and Pacific Theatres, and the spread of Islam.
OUR APPROACH
With over two dozen interactive maps as part of the project spec, it became clear very early in the project that grouping maps and building templates based on interaction type would be the most time and cost-efficient approach to creating content based on layered map files provided to us by the Rand McNally team.
Thus, maps were divided in the following categories:
- Timeline-based maps that showcase important events via a scrubbable timeline.
- Event click-throughs that highlight events requiring more descriptive text.
- Comparative overlays used to juxtapose map data via semi-transparent layer states.
- Interactive legends that allow users to turn map layers on and off.
IMPLEMENTATION
Mightybytes designed several interface templates based on the above criteria and prototyped each interaction type before starting production on the full set of maps. We worked with Rand McNally’s editorial team to devise educational copy that met state standards while also remaining terse enough to fit within the small digital footprint necessary when maps were presented full-screen on projectors that only support 800 X 600 display resolutions. The full-screen functionality also allowed the maps to be used with interactive whiteboards as well.
THE RETURN
With its rich array of educational geography and social studies content, including these maps, Rand McNally Classroom was nominated for a Codie Award in 2008 for Best Social Studies Instructional Solution from the Software and Information Industry Association.
To view all the interactive features of these maps, sign up for a free 14-day trial of Rand McNally Classroom.