Conflict History is an interactive map powered with the use of Google Maps (you know it's gotta be good) that holds a massive collection of information and map locations of the major and minor wars and conflicts through out our earth's history. The interactive map features a timeline at the bottom, with which you can toggle through a wide range of dates from before 900BC to present day. When you slide through the timeline, dates will populate in the event box and locations will be displayed on the map. As you select each event or conflict, all other locations and conflict events associated with it are shown below in the event menu as well as indicated on the map (shown below).
This is a great way to bring some contextual value and understanding to major events and wars that happen through out history.
There's more.Not only can you view battles and conflicts associated with the major war, but the Information icon provides you with a background about the conflict. You can also browse conflicts and wars in particular areas by sliding the timeline and clicking on the placemarks shown on the map. Clicking on a placemark will zoom you in to the location.
Note: Glitch. There is a bit of a glitch with the resolution of the map at times. If you find that your map becomes pixelated or blurred, simply zoom out one notch on the zoom slider and zoom back in. Otherwise, you could refresh your browser.
Also, as with any Google Map, you have satellite, hybrid and terrain viewing options at the top right corner.
I found this map resource from a blog I follow that offers some good material especially for US History in Social Studies - US History Teachers Blog. Check this out; subscribe to it.
appsfire.com offers some great resources for finding iOS apps. They have their own FREE app, called Appsfire Deals, which shares apps that have recently gone FREE and the top rated FREE apps. Check it out.
On my You Tube channel I curate and collect videos from You Tube into specific playlists or collections for teachers to use when helping them learn more about specific products or technology for their classrooms.
I have such a playlist for SMART Response software and hand-held devices. This playlist is constantly being updated any time I find more quality video associated with SMART Response.
Be sure to check out my channel for other playlists that may be of your interest.
Since I have grown to love Google+ more and more, I am using it more and more. I use this microblog to spread the communication on new content, idea, resources, and tutorials for technology integration in the classroom. Be sure to fine me and add me to your circles in Google+. Even if you do not have a Google account or use Google+, bookmark my Profile page or my education page and frequent this site for some very useful resources to assit your classroom environment and professional development. You'll find much more content on my Google+ education page (also, titled Ratkacher Station) since it is a microblog and much easier to send out new stuff; and quickly.
Since this blog is devoted to spreading information and content to my school district (though, not restricted to this), I only post during the school year and school days. You will not find any new content during holidays or vacations (well, you may find something from time to time). Though I have been using this blog for about a year and a half, I feel that I am still very new to this mode of communication. In the past year my blog posting frequency was about one per week. I intend on increasing that frequency this year to a couple a week depending on how busy my week is.
Through my posts you will find helpful tutorials, useful online tools and information that will assist educators in being better at what they do.
As we begin this new year, I am excited again about working with my teaching staff and helping create solid curriculum through technology. We have a couple of new products that I am excited about - i.e. SMART Technology's new integrated SMART tools and the new PowerTeacher upgrade. I will be posting some information on these as well as some tutorials.
I would like to reiterate what a Technology Integration Specialist does. The video below is something I had posted last year, but does a great job at explaining what my goals and desires are as a TIS.
I am a jack-of-all-trades, but some of the areas I do specialize in are any of our SMART Technology's products (i.e. SMART Notebook, SMART Boards, SMART Response, and more), Moodle, Google Earth, using a Personal Learning Network and many of our MLTI Macbook applications from Noteshare to ComicLife to iMovie.
Some of you at the High School are already aware that I have relocated my "office". I am now in Rm 213 and will be available for anyone to stop by at any time for a visit. I will also be available to stop by your location if you have any questions.
Durring these next couple of weeks I will be available all week until harvest break. After harvest break I will be available at the high school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I can be flexible, though, if these two days are not accommodating for you. Just let me know what would work best for you and I will see what I can do to help.
Please contact me any time if you have any questions, ideas, feedback or want to discuss how we can work together:
