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Q:    What are the technical requirements to use the service?
A:    Rand McNally Classroom is a web-based subscription with minimal technical requirements:

Applications:
  • Web browser: PC users, please use Internet Explorer 6.0, Firefox or Safari. Mac users, please use Safari.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader: A current version, for saving and printing high quality maps.
  • Flash: Version 9 or higher (in order to use the interactive features of the website: Games & Activities, Map & Globe Skills, Interactive History Maps, and User Guide & Tutorial).
  • Microsoft Word: A current version for editing and saving lesson plans. 
System Settings:
  • Display resolution: we recommend a display resolution of 800x600 pixels or better.
  • Cookies: We recommend enabling cookies so that Rand McNally Classroom can remember your login information.
  • Pop-up blocker: We recommend you turn off your pop-up block for randmcnallyclassroom.com so that files open properly in new windows.

Viewing Enhanced Graphics:

To enhance performance of the graphics contained on our website, Rand McNally utilizes a third party content provider to deliver multiple types of digital images. If you are using a firewall, or another form of internet security within your organization, you may need to add www.akamaitechnologies.com <http://www.akamaitechnologies.com/> as well as www.akamai.net <http://www.akamai.net/> domains as trusted sites to your firewall or proxy server. Granting access to simply www.randmcnally.com <http://www.randmcnally.com/> however, will usually allow full traffic to the Classroom website.

Q:    How do teachers and students access Rand McNally Classroom website?
A:    Each subscribing school has two username/password sets—one for student use and one for teacher use. Teacher access includes everything on the website plus lesson plans, State Q&A and other assessment materials to which students don't have access. Teachers, school staff and students can access the website at any computer—at school or home—by using the teacher or student password.
Q:    How do I print a page?
A:    The simplest way to print what you see on your screen is to go to your browser bar and click File >> Print. However, this may not produce the cleanest possible printout. There are several ways to print out clean versions of the content on the Rand McNally Classroom website:

Scenario 1: Printing a map
  • Select a map from a Map List page.
  • The map will appear in a new window.
  • In the Map Tools box, click Print (next to the printer icon).
Country and state political maps may also be printed directly from the country or state's home page using the Download PDF icon in the Map Tools box shown below the map.

Scenario 2: Printing an informational page (e.g. About Europe or About Texas)
  • In the yellow title bar, click on the icon that is entitled Printer-friendly version.
  • Click File >> Print.
Scenario 3: Printing a lesson plan
  • Select a lesson plan from the Lesson Plans list.
  • In the top right hand corner, click on the orange oval entitled Download Lesson Plan.
  • You will have the option to Open and print the lesson plan immediately in Word or Save the lesson plan to your chosen directory for printing later.
Q:    How do I save a map image so that I can use it in other classroom materials that I create (e.g. PowerPoint slides, Word documents, etc.)?
A:   

To save a map, follow these steps:

    1. If you are on a "Find Maps" listing page, choose a map. An enlarged map will appear in a new window.
    2. Once the enlarged map appears, click on the disk icon at the top of the screen entitled Save. You will then be prompted to Open or Save the image file. Click Save. Choose a directory where you want the image stored (you may rename the file if you wish), and click Save.
    3. To use this image in another application (e.g. Word, PowerPoint), you must be in that application and follow the procedure for inserting a picture or image. For example, if you would like to insert a map image into a PowerPoint presentation:
      • Open a new presentation.
      • From the Insert menu, choose Picture >> From File.
      • Find the directory where you stored the image file.
      • Select (left click) the image file and click Insert.
      The file will appear in your PowerPoint presentation.

Note: Please remember that the content on Rand McNally Classroom is copyrighted material and is for the personal instructional and educational use only of subscribers to Rand McNally Classroom only.
Q:    When I bring up a history map in PDF format, it displays sideways. How do I display it horizontally?
A:    In your Adobe toolbar, click on the "Rotate" button. If this button doesn't appear in your toolbar, you can add it. Here's how: right-click in the toolbar, select "More Tools," and then click on the "Rotate Clockwise" box.

You can use the zoom in/out buttons to enlarge or decrease the size of the map.

Q:    When I try to display the whole maps at once, some of the type is too small. How do I enlarge the text to make the map more readable?
A:    In the PDF viewing format, click on the zoom in button (plus sign inside a circle).
Q:    How can I use Rand McNally Classroom with my interactive whiteboard (e.g. SMARTBoard, Promethean interactive whiteboard, etc.)?
A:    All images can be projected from a computer on to any interactive whiteboard screen using an LCD projector. The images can then be annotated using the whiteboard's electronic marking system. By downloading the images as outlined above, the maps on the Rand McNally Classroom website can also be uploaded to storage folders contained within most whiteboard software. Take caution when resizing images so as not to distort the projection of the map. This can be done by increasing/decreasing the image size by dragging only the corner of the map image (versus the sides, top or bottom).
Q:    I am getting an error message that tells me I need Adobe Acrobat and/or Flash Player in order to view certain content. How do I get these applications, and is it safe to download them?
A:    While it is always good to check with the technology support person at your school, Adobe Acrobat and Flash Player are widely accepted applications that are generally safe to use on most computers. To download a free version of Adobe Acrobat, please click here and for Flash Player click here.
Q:    When I select a map from a map list, it pops up in a new window that is smaller than my computer screen. How do I enlarge the map window?
A:    At the top right hand corner of your screen, click on the enlarge window button.
Q:    The map window is enlarged, and I have to scroll in order to see the entire map. How do I modify the view so that I can see the whole map at once?
A:    Click on the PDF icon in the Map Tools box. The map will appear in the Adobe format (if you don't have Adobe, click hereto download a free copy of this software). To enlarge or decrease the size of the map image, click on the plus [+] or minus [-] symbols in the menu bar.
Q:    I clicked on a lesson plan from the Lesson Plans list, and nothing happened.
A:    Please make sure that you have your pop-up blocker turned off.
Q:    I clicked on "Download PDF" in order to view, print or save the PDF version of a map and nothing happened.
A:    Please make sure that you have a current version of Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer. To download a free version of Adobe Acrobat, please click here.
Q:    Some pictures and images are not displaying properly?
A:   

Clearing your browser's cache will help our website refresh images correctly when you visit our site.  

In Internet Explorer, this is accomplished as follows:
  • Click Tools >> Internet Options.
  • Under Temporary Internet Files, select Delete Files.
  • Click OK to return to your browser. Login again to Rand McNally Classroom.
In Safari 1.0 / Safari 2.0 for Macintosh OS X, this is accomplished as follows:
  • Select Empty Cache.
  • Click Empty on the Are you sure message box.
  • Exit and relaunch the browser.
Q:    Do you have a Rand McNally Classroom logo image that my school can use to link to Rand McNally Classroom from my school's intranet site?
A:   

Please call 1-800-678-RAND (-7263) to have a logo image sent to you.

Note: Please remember that access to Rand McNally Classroom should be available to subscribing school staff and students only and as such access should not be provided via a publicly available website.
Q:    How do I properly cite Rand McNally Classroom material?
A:   

The URL address and access date should be included in any citation. An example of a citation would be as follows:

Rand McNally Classroom, s.v. "Europe in 1815," www.randmcnallyclassroom.com (accessed October 4, 2006).
Q:    Who should I contact with questions about my account (e.g. invoices, contract terms, subscription expiration date, etc.)?
A:   

Please contact Rand McNally at 1-800-678-7263.
Q:    How to download image
A:   
How to download image
 
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