Technology in the Social Studies Classroom

And when? And How? Why use technology in social studies? •Motivates students to produce their best work when they have an authentic audience •Makes sense of the transfer of class content to real world applications •Engages kids in a natural area of their interest •Differentiates instruction by allowing students to work at their own pace •Offers choices and options, empowering children in their learning Research-supported Why do classroom teachers like to use technology? What Tools Work in Social Studies? Presentation Tools Prezi Power Point Smart Notebook spicy nodes Teacher Tools Research Creative Tools Games Multimedia YouTube.com TeacherTube.com BOCES Media Connect History.com Google Video Photographs & Art Google images Library of Congress University Collections Primary Sources DocsTeach.org LOC.gov (Library of Congress) Timeliner Inspiration (mind maps) Dipity.com (timeline creator) Animoto.com (slide shows) Windows Photo Story (documentaries) Read Write Think.org (comic creator) Glogster.com (online poster) Last Pass (password management) Remind 101 (student contactor) *School Website* electronic gradebook excel Evaluation m.socrative.com School Website Google forms Conversation Furl.ly (combine URLs-webquests) Tagul (Word clouds are fun for webquests) Museum Box (create a cube of knowledge) Diigo.com (organize research) Easybib (citation creator) Voicethread.com (online conversations) Wallwisher.com TodaysMeet.com Capzles.com (social storytelling) Scholastic Interactive Whiteboard Activities Mission-US.org Tom Snyder-Decisions Decisions Tips Be kind to yourself and take it slow Add technology when it enhances the lesson, not just to include it Learn from and with your colleagues Let the kids take chances and don't "over teach" a tool; learning to be comfortable with trial and error is an important life lesson Plan for it not to work...what can break WILL! Try a new tool by adding it to a menu of choices and grading with a generic rubric. If one tool fails, it won't ruin your lesson or your day It increases their efficiency with grade management, planning, accommodating special needs students Improves the quality of their instruction (incorporating multimedia, & using a variety of available resources with ease) Presentations & lessons can easily be edited, manipulated, and enhanced from year-to-year Technology keeps kids engaged and on-task, easing management issues •Allows teacher to play “coach” rather than direct instructor Helps the teacher reach higher levels of understanding-creating, evaluating, analyzing •Variety in product = variety in grading! Flipped Classroom Think about having students review your presentation or "lecture" from home as homework and applying, analyzing, or creating within the class time. You can use a flip cam or screen cast software to record your lecture easily. Smart Notebook How To Videos & Web 2.0 Links to Try http://www.fmschools.org/webpages/mpietricola/index.cfm?subpage=25300