Technology Integration: Social Studies

Social Studies is debatably the most considered 'boring' subject in school. Science can create cool experiments, Math is simply needed in almost everything that we do, and English has amazing literature that can be appreciated among anyone. Social Studies, on the other hand, has been an area where a student is required to memorize information that dates back to the beginning of time. Of course this subject is considered 'boring'. I have this burning desire to show students how learning history, politics, and economics is needed in order to maintain, or even rebuild our society.

The major question is how do we engage our students to spark an interest in things that have already happened? The chapter dedicated to Social Studies did an excellent job giving examples of technological advances that create a learning atmosphere that is wanted among students, not forced upon them.

Virtual Field Trips:
I really found this interesting. This is a great way to provide students to experience a "variety of cultures, sights, and events outside their own communities" (Robyler & Doering, 2013, p.339). While having a classroom full of students it is not possible to be able to fly them across the world to visit a location to better their understanding. This is budget-friendly way to provide a cool experience of almost visiting the same area.

http://www.history.org/history/index.cfm

Adventure Learning:
This is a way for students to experience the virtual travels of explorers and educators travel throughout the world. Students would be in the life experiences of the people who witnessed it first-hand. Websites such as www.earthducation.com and www.polarhusky.com are ways for teachers to access this.

Digital Storytelling:
This is a process of "using images and audio to tell the stories of lives, events, and eras" by allowing students to "use personal narratives to explore community-based history, politics, economics, and geography" (Robyler & Doering, 2013, p.340). It also makes students become sensitized to diverse perspectives and biases, increases their analysis and critical thinking skills, and compares/contrasts past and present events (Robyler & Doering, 2013, p.340).

Advantages of Technology Integration:
There are clear advantages in technology integration. It creates an atmosphere for students to learn as if they were experiencing the situation first-hand. It engages students in the material that is required for them to learn. Technology has the potential to transform the learning experience for students. Having daily access to the internet gives students and teachers "up-to-date information that can change daily" (Robyler & Doering, 2013, p.341). The programs such as the ones listed above are all advantages in relaying information to students that they might not be able to understand on their own.

http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-importance

Disadvantages of Technology Integration:
Of course there will always be disadvantages to technology. Maintenance comes along with technology. One of our videos explained how if every individual had a computer then maintenance would be impossible, especially within the school because if there is an update, new software, etc. then it would have to be done by the technologist at hand. The expenses could be overwhelming as well. Not every school has a budget that allows for large amount of technology in the classroom and not every student is in a financial situation where they would be able to invest in their own device.

This is a short article that explains the disadvantages of using technology in the classroom. These are the things that we must master in order to optimize our technology use for student's learning.
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/tech/index.pl?read=136

M6 - http://t.co/tITkmu4L7T -- check out this short video on the classroom of the future!! #ED527UM

— Alex Strickland (@AL4Strick) November 18, 2013