Technology in Social Studies

Chapter 12 discusses using technology in the social studies curriculum. After reading this chapter it gave me an insight of how to utilize the computer to construct lesson plans involving social studies. I use the computer in my classroom more as a reward, a center, math games on c.d. roms, and during Science lessons. I normally teach social studies orally. We use our books and workbooks and have discussions about our lesson. However, this chapter helped remind me you can use the internet to incorporate many social studies lessons even in 1st grade. You could have children look up different generations and how they differ today as well as studying the variety of cultures that make up our society. One of the teachers in my grade level sent home a project for her children to complete and come back to class and conduct an oral presentation of what they learned. This is a great way for children to utilize the computer as well as learn about people and their ways of living. You could also have pairs of students to work in groups at certain times during the day to locate information; especially in the upper grades where the kids do not require as much attention. Although, there are a variety of ways children could access technology to integrate social studies standards, we have to be careful not to get lazy with allowing the computer become the teacher. This chapter listed many strategies to integrate technology that I would have never known about.