Chapter 12: Teaching and learning with tech in Social studies

Ten Themes form the framework for the social studies standards:

1. Culture: typically occurs in units and courses dealing with geography, history, sociology, and anthropology
2. Time, continuity, and change: typically appears in courses in history and others that draw on historical knowledge and habits
3. people places and environments: typically appears in units and courses dealing with area studies and geography
4. individual development and identity: typically appears in units and courses dealing with psychology and anthropology
5. Individuals, groups, and institutions: typically appears in units and courses dealing with sociology, anthropology, psychology, political science, and history
6. Power, authority, and governance: typically appears in units and courses dealing with government, politics, political science, history and law
7. production, distribution, and consumption: typically appears in units and courses dealing with economic concepts and issues
8. science, technology and society: draws on natural and physical sciences, social studies, and the humanities.  appears in a variety of social studies courses, including history, geography, economics, civics, and government
9. Global connections: tyically appears in units and courses dealing with geography, culture, and economics, but may also draw on the natural and physical sciences and the humanities.
10. Civic ideals and practices: typically appears in units or courses dealing with history, political science, and cultural anthropology and fields such as global studies, law-related education, and the humanities.

Technology integration strategies: 

• these stratgeies support both traditional, directed approaches to teaching social studies topics as well as constructivist uses of technology.
• depending on the goal, teachers need to identify and use the appropraite tech. to support content

Simulated Problem Solving environements: see Table 12.1 for examples

• simulations help make concepts clear and meaningful
• help develop problem solving skills

Information Visualization: see table 12.2 for examples

• information design and uses pictures symbols, colors, and words o communicate ideas, illustrate info, or express relationships visually
• allow students to understand time sequences, track change over time, and represent complex data in ways that can be understood.

Virtual Field Trips: see table 12.3 for examples

• provide students opportunity to construct knowledge actively
• when integrated can be among most valuable and effective models of teaching history
• offer budget friendly opportunities
• winning field trip elements
• need to have connection to curriculum 
• teachers need to work with site personell to enhance learning
• teachers need to prepare students on field trip before they "go"

Adventure Learning: see table 12.4 for examples

• hybrid distance education approach
• for example, students follow along virtually as students and educators actually explore the world
• these projects promote communication, encourage reflection, & provide a wealth of info

Digital Storytelling: see table 12.5 for examples

• process of using images and audio to tell stories of lives, events, or eras
• use of digital projects in social studies can accomplish many purposes pg. 340