This document discusses various ways that technology can be used in social studies education, including simulations, digital storytelling, geospatial technologies, and GPS. It provides examples of using devices and software for activities, communication, word processing, multimedia tools, and instructional software. Guidelines are presented for adaptive learning, responsible work, copyright, assessment rubrics, telecommunications, and sample lesson plans. Overall, the document explores how technology can enhance social studies instruction in many areas.

1. Technology in Social Studies.By: Ellie Eccleston, Heather Walsh, Amanda Terry, Jenna Johnson, and Katie O’Connell

2. 5 Concepts5 of the important concepts are:1. Simulations or electronic environments that allow students to interact with simulated events or locations can help make these concepts more clear and meaningful.2. Adventure learning is a hybrid distance education approach that provides students with opportunities to explore real-world issues through authentic learning experiences within collaborative learning environments. 3. Digital Storytelling is the process of using images and audio to tell the stories of lives, events, or eras. In this technique, students use personal narrative to explore community-based history, politics, economics, and geography.4. Geospatial technologies, such as Google Earth and ArcExplorer, allow individuals to view and examine the world through multiple layering of data within a spatial environment.5. Global Positioning System (GPS), allows students to look at geography from many other perspectives.

3. How to use devices on computer software in Social Studies- Having the students take pictures of parts of the country while on a vacation or etc. - Having students record different parts of the country if a student goes on a vacation during the school year. - Having the students make up skits on the lesson that we are covering and record each group. - Having the students create and draw maps of the world or different parts of the country and scan them into the computer. - Having students dress up as tribal groups for a photo shoot.

4. How technology can be used in communication in Social StudiesIf the students have a group project to work on they can use Skype to communicate. - Students can also use an online blogger to have a discussion on the internet. - Students can use AIM to communicate without meeting in the group. - Students can Email each other the different parts of a group project. - Students can also use a social bookmarking site such as delicious.com to be able to access the same websites.

5. Using word processing and data bases for Social Studies- Students can use word processing to create a table of information such as populations, or other information. - Students can use a word processing to type a report or some up with a story on a specific part of a country - Students can use a database to record information such as population and other geographical information. - Students can use a powerpoint for a in class presentation. - Students will use a word processing to create clip art for a poster presentation.

6. Using multimedia tools in Social StudiesWays in incorporate multimedia into the social studies classroom would be to:- Research the web to find things about different countries-Look at maps and countries to look at their locations-Videos to show movies dealing with the unit being covered-Powerpoint, for note-taking in the classroom-Resources such as skype to chat with others from around the world.

7. Adaptive learning in Social Studies-Using adaptive resources for students with disabilities-Assistive Technology Devices- Tools for learning specific to their disability-Blackboards, or special worksheets-Specific tasks for a student to complete for the class

8. Responsible work in Social Studies• Socially responsible- • Ethical• Legal use of technology• Software resources- some software resources that students can your students can use include: websites, games and other learning tools.

9. Copyright laws and guidelines Example of how teachers and students can adhere to copyright laws and guidelines in the access and use of information from various technologies in relation to social studies- When a teacher or student is making a PowerPoint presentation instead of copying copyrighted material, they should put a link to the original copyrighted material in their presentation.

10. TrackStar and WebQuest in Social StudiesSpecific examples of how an existing Trackstar or Webquest can be used as an activity for social studies1. Name: Social StudiesUrl or #: 271756Brief Critique: This trackstar has a lot of information to offer such as current events and lessons in history. It’s also very user friendly.2. Name: Social StudiesUrl or #: 151419Brief Critique: This trackstar has information on almost any topic in Social Studies. It has approximately 200 links that are useful in Social Studies.3. Name: Social Studies for Elementary EducationUrl or #: 79337Brief Critique: This trackstar provides information for elementary teachers to help teach Social Studies easier.4. Name: Social Studies is Fun!Url or #: 2442265Brief Critique: This trackstar provides a way for students to learn Social Studies in a fun way. One of the websites has an interactive game where the students can be Captain of the Jamestown Colony.5. Name: Social Studies ActivitiesUrl or #: 150704Brief Critique: This trackstar includes a collection of websites that have activities to teach Social Studies to children in K-5.

11. Using instructional software in Social StudiesSpecific examples of instructional software that can be used for social studies1) Virtual trips- Online activities in which students explore unique locations around the world and or communicate with learners at those sitesExample: Colonial House, a tour of life in the Colonial Era- http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/history/index.html 2) Adventure learning- a hybrid distance education approach that provides students with opportunities to explore real-world issues through authentic learning experiences within collaborative learning environmentExample: GoNorth! Adventure Learning Series- http://www.polarhusky.com/ 3) Digital Storytelling- Using images and audio to tell the stories of lives, events, or erasExample: PBS Civil War- http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/ 4) Electronic Research-Gives students up to date informationExample: Multiculturalpedia- http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~tokyo3/e/ 5) GIS and GPS lessons- Allow individuals to examine the world through multiple layering of data within a spatial environmentExample: Arc Explorer- http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/

12. Tele-research and tele-communications in Social Studies• Some of the best tools that you can use when it comes to teaching is the internet. • When it deals with social studies, the use of the internet allows your students to experience places they might have never seen otherwise.

13. Using rubrics to assess students1. Social Studies Rubrichttp://www.mdk12.org/practices/support_success/hsa/critical_thinking/rubric.html This is a rubric grading every writing assignment. It scores 0-4.2. Making a collagehttp://www.teach-nology.com/gold/socialstudiesrubric1.html This is a rubric out of 28 that grades from 1-4. 4 being the highest amount of points possible.3. Research Report: Document Based Questionhttp://www.teach-nology.com/gold/socialstudiesrubric2.html This is a rubric out of 24 that grades from 1-4. 4 bring the highest amount of possible points.4.Research Paper: People places and North Americahttp://www.teach-nology.com/gold/socialstudiesrubric3.html This is a rubric out or 28 that grades from 1-4. 4 being the highest amount of possible points.5. Current Event Rubrichttp://makeworksheets.com/samples/rubrics/social.html This is a rubric out of 24 that grades from 1-4. 4 being the highest amount of possible points. There is even a space for teachers comments on this one.

14. Social Studies lesson plansTITLE: NAME THAT TOWN AUTHOR: Donna Patterson; GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: Grades 4-12 • OBJECTIVE(s): The students will demonstrate an understanding of the geographic theme of location • demonstrate an ability to locate towns on a map by using map coordinates. .• demonstrate an ability to use the index on a map. .cooperate in a learning activity. • RESOURCES/MATERIALS: .handout of picture sketches of towns .handout of coordinates which match the map you are using .state map • ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:• ACTIVITY NO. 1 .Students are to work in small groups .Hand out picture sketches of towns .Hand out state maps .Students are to try and guess the name of the town represented by the sketch .If stuck, students are to check the "clue sheet" for the coordinates that match the town. • ACTIVITY NO. 2 .Each student will work individually .Select a name from the map index and, using index cards draw a picture of it complete with map coordinates. .Student will draw their picture(s) on the board for others to guess.

15. SummaryTechnology is a fantastic tool in Social Studies. There are many different ways to help students learn through technology. There are also many different ways to help teachers with their lesson plans or rubrics. Also, it shows how to make sure you stick to the copyright laws. Adaptive learning may also come in handy to teachers and students.