Social Studies is a subject that according to Roblyer (2016) "presents issues, concepts, or procedures that may be complex and confusing for students" (p. 340). Thinking back to the social studies classes I took part in it is easy to see how this is true. However, by integrating technology into a social studies lesson, one can help the students make sense of what is being taught. By integrating technology into social studies, one can access primary sources, which "foster the visual literacy and historical inquiry of students by making academic content meaningful and building on prior experiences" (p.341). Also by utilizing technology one can have access to "up-to-date information" (p.341) on different topics and have experiences that may not be possible through virtual field trips (p.342).
Below is a video that not discuss simpler advantages for integrating technology into social studies, but in other subjects as well.
Disadvantages of Integrating Technology
Although there are plenty of advantages with integrating technology into social studies, there are also some disadvantages as well. One such disadvantage is the information that students might find about a topic on the internet. According to Roblyer (2016) "many students are drawn to online sites without questioning their accuracy" (p. 339). With the students being drawn to inaccurate websites, it opens the door for students to be misinformed on a topic. Roblyer (2016) points out that "students can find sites that profess Nazi and Ku Klux Klan ideology, treat rumors as fact, and promote conspiracy theories" (p.339). This can lead to contradictions in the information that the textbook and the teacher is trying to provide the students with. Thus requiring the teacher to waste precious time addressing and fixing such matters.
Simpler disadvantages of integrating technology into not only social studies but other content areas as well are discussed in the video below.
Specific Activites, Programs, Etc.
- Primary Sources
- Library of Congress
- National Archives and Records Administration
- Our Documents
- The Oyez Project
- Project Gutenberg
- Virtual Fieldtrips
- Adventure Learning
- Digital Storytelling
- Google Earth
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- Geocaching
- Simulations
Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (Seventh ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.
my cool channel. (2012, September 10). advantages of technology in classrooms and schools. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0s5zp99xhg
Lauren Stookey. (2013, September 8). Cons of Tech in the Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ownjlFrXs
You accumulated a great list of activities and programs that will be very helpful in the classroom. I'm excited to see what I can use in my next social studies lesson. As you mentioned, technology "presents issues, concepts, or procedures that may be complex and confusing for students" Robyler (2016). Another advantage of technology integration, according to Robyler (2016), is technology provides powerful learning tools for engaging students in investigating more complex ideas. Technology allows students to actively learn and make meaning of what they are learning.
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