10 Strategies for Technology in Social Studies Instruction Jill Root

TAKE advantage of these 10 powerful strategies for using technology to ENHANCE the teaching of social studies topics

Adventure learning (AL)  opportunities to explore real world issues through authentic learning experiences collaborative learning environments  Promotes communication, encourage reflection, and provide a wealth of information to support students’ research GoNorth! Addresses the National Social Studies Standards (NCSS): All themes

Virtual Field trips  Helps students learn about other cultures Enriches students’ study of other lands and ways of life Colonial House, a tour of life in the Colonial Era: ory/index.html ory/index.html Theme 2: Time, continuity, and change

GPS devices send students on a geocaching treasure hunt with these devices  Gets a student to spend more time studying geographical information and techniques –Math lessons with GPS: ies/gps.html ies/gps.html Theme 3: People, places, and environment

Simulated Immersion experience  Allows students to interact with simulated events or locations  Develops better problem-solving skills –Muzzy lane’s Making History: Theme 2: Time, continuity, and change, Theme 6: Power, authority, and governance

Electronic Research Do webquests to learn the history behind political issues  Gives students and teachers up-to-date information they could not obtain easily from other sources Helps students to analyze information –U.S. Congress: Theme 6: Power, authority, and governance, Theme 10: Civic ideals and practices

GIS and GPS Lessons  Allow individuals to view and examine the world through multiple layering of data within a spatial environment  Integrate geospatial technologies to study the earth, people and the symbiotic nature between the two –Science/geography lessons with GIS and GPS: Theme 3: People, places, and environment

Simulation games  Easier to understand when students play the role;  ex: Students get to invest “their own” money and seeing the return over time with stock market simulation games

Electronic storytelling  Plays a key role in helping students prepare oral histories teach local and other history with this type of storytelling  Foster skills in analysis and critical thinking –Voice Thread: All themes

Use software such as VoiceThread allow for real-time collaboration around numerous forms of content  Hands-on software  Allows students to post content and comment on each other’s work in an online learning environment –Don’t Buy It: Theme 8: Science, technology, and society

Digital Cameras Allows students to capture images from their vantage point Participate in the construction of knowledge Learn how diverse perspectives can be shaped