Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Chapter 11

Technology and Media in Social Studies

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Looking AheadWhat is technology?What are the various types of

technologies that teachers can effectively utilize to enhance social studies instruction in the elementary school?

How will students’ prerequisite skills and knowledge about technology influence a teacher’s instruction?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Can You –Explain how technology benefits students

learning and enhances your instruction?Describe your own skills and abilities in

utilizing technology?Identify or describe specific technology

skills that are important for your students to master?

Think of activities in which children could have experiences in utilizing classroom technology?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Do You –Know where to find valuable resources

using the Internet?Know what technologies are typically

found in schools and how they should be used?

Know the definition of Media and Visual Literacy?

Understand different ways of using technology to enhance classroom instruction?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Focus Activity What types of technology did your teachers use in

the classroom when you were a student?Consider how technology from your experiences

as a student has evolved over the years.What technology do you expect to see in

contemporary classrooms?What resources and technologies do you feel

comfortable working with and which technologies might you need more support utilizing?

Share your experiences with classmates.

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Focus Activity Rank the following technologies based on

how important you think they are for classroom instruction (1 being most important, 10 being least important).

Use this list as a basis for discussion.

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Focus Activity TelevisionInternet accessDocument cameraVideo recorderDVD/VCRIPads (for student use)Computer (teacher use only)Interactive whiteboard (Smartboard, Promethean,

etc.)Liquid crystal display (LCD) projectorComputers (student use)

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Focus Activity Why are some resources more valuable to

you than others?How do you envision technology being

used in your classroom?You might also like to generate additional

resources not listed in this overview.Share you conclusions with classmates.

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Getting Started: Technology as a Productive Tool

What prerequisite skills are expected of elementary teachers in the 21st Century?

What can one do to seek assistance in acquiring technological skills?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Technology and Standards

What kind of standards for technology do you think exist?

What are the five NETS?What makes the standards for

technology issued by NCSS different?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Enhancing Instruction with the InternetWhat are the possible benefits and pitfalls of

utilizing the Internet for the social studies?In what ways can a teacher utilize the

Internet?Evaluating the websites Promoting media literacy Promoting visual literacy Digital historyVirtual field tripsWebQuests

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Teaching with FilmWhat are the potential benefits and

pitfalls for utilizing film?What steps should you take to ensure that

you use film effectively?What are the five ways to use film?

SpringboardVisual textbookDepicter of atmosphereAnalogyHistoriography

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Social Media

What are the potential benefits and pitfalls of utilizing social media in the classroom?

What pitfalls are present for teachers?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Challenges to Technology IntegrationDoes the use of technology contribute to student

learning?Does the technology improve the learning

opportunities of students?Do all students have the necessary skills to complete

the activity? What modifications/accommodations might need to be made for students needing additional support?

Is the activity or lesson dependent on the technology and how would you respond if the technology failed (power outage, Internet down, etc.)?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Challenges to Technology IntegrationWhat about …

the “digital divide”?Cyberbullying?Copyright ?Internet safety?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Looking Back Teachers will need to constantly evaluate

and develop new teaching strategies to incorporate instructional technology into the curriculum.

As technology will continue to develop and change over time, it is crucial for teachers to continually grow as lifelong learners and explore all of the exciting educational opportunities that come with new technological innovations.

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

ExtensionThe end of your first year of teaching is quickly

approaching and your excitement can hardly be contained. At a faculty meeting the principal explains that the district has allotted some additional funding for technology for the enhancement of social studies instruction. The principal explains though that he has selected a committee to determine what technologies are important for enhancing the teaching and learning of social studies. He concludes by telling the faculty the selected committee members. You hear your name called. Shocked, a little embarrassed, and secretly proud, you willingly accept the appointment.

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

ExtensionImagine your group is the committee. The principal

wants you create a list of technologies to enhance the teaching and learning of social studies.

However, he did not share the budget, but instead requested a wish list.

Your committee needs to organize how the money will be spent per grade level. As well, your committee needs to determine what technologies are important, who will use them, how will they be utilized, and how often.

The committees list should be detailed and shared with peers/instructor.

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Self-Test1. What is meant by the term “media

literacy”?2. Why is there a need to help

students understand how to use technology?

3. What makes the Internet considered both a positive and negative resource?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

Self-Test4. What are some ways to enhance

instruction by utilizing technology?5. What areas of instructional

technology are you comfortable using and in what areas might you need more development?

6. When is it appropriate to use technology?

Essentials of Elementary Social Studies By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

ResourcesBerson, M. J., Cruz, B. C., Duplass, J. A., & Johnston, J. H.

(2007). Social Studies on the Internet (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.

Diem, R. (Ed.), and Berson, M. (Ed.) (2010). Technology in Retrospect: Social Studies in the Information Age, 1984–2009. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Lee, J. (Ed.), and Friedman, A. (Ed.) (2009). Research on Technology in Social Studies Education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Cohen, D., & Rosenzweig, R. (2005). Digital History: A Guide to Gathering, Preserving, and Presenting the Past on the Web. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.