Module 5: Integrating Technology Across the Curriculum: Social Studies

Chapter 12

I found this chapter to be very interesting. As we all know, Social Studies is used to connect people to the Earth through Geography, History, Economics, and Civics. This chapter illustrates how to effectively integrate Technology and Social Studies in the classroom. Some strategies for effective integration include simulated problem-solving environments, information visualization, virtual field trips, adventure learning, digital storytelling, digital information critiques, electronic research, geospatial analysis, and so much more. The possibilities are endless!

Advantages of Social Studies/Technology Integration
Some advantages of the integration of Social Studies and Technology include, but are not limited to:

• The lessons are presented in a current form that students are able to relate to.
• Technology has the ability to make Social Studies instruction hands on and engaging for students.
• Technology enhances the content taking Social Studies instruction to a whole new level.
• Technology is the future, and we want students to be able to use it as efficiently as possible. 

Additional benefits of integrating technology can be found here.

Disadvantages of Social Studies/ Technology Integration
Some disadvantages of the integration of Social Studies and Technology include, but are not limited to:

• The information is constantly changing due to the boom in technological advances within the last thirty years, making it difficult to zoom in on small concepts. 
• Not all technological information is valid.
• Students need to learn more about the different types of resources in order to effectively decipher between truth and falsification on the internet. 
• Technology integration can result in barrier in communication and quality group work.

Additional disadvantages of integrating technology can be found here.

Additional Resources on Technology Integration in the Classroom
Technology Integration for the New 21st Century Learner
Technology Integration that Works
Successful Technology Use in the Classroom
How Technology Enhances Learning
Video: Integrating Technology in Your Classroom

Flip Charts - Module 4

Names on Popsicle Sticks

Popsicle Sticks

I chose this flip chart because it is an effective management tool for all classrooms. This is a flip chart that a teacher could run in the background of the Promethean Board. It would be easily accessible when needed, and it is customizable for individual classrooms.

Hardware/Software

 This particular flip chart is to be used with a Promethean Board.  Promethean Boards are efficient pieces of hardware in the classroom. They are interactive and engage student learning. Promethean Boards are synced to a classroom computer, which adds even more versatility to the board. Promethean Boards include the software, ActivInspire, which brings many amazing features to life on the Promethean Board.

Technology Use Based on Problem Solving

The Popsicle Stick flip chart is useful in every classroom. It requires students to pay attention because they could be called on at any moment, which keeps them engaged and on task during lessons and discussions. The colors are bright, and the sticks are customizable to fit classroom needs. The main goal of gaining and keeping student attention is met by keeping students on their toes while awaiting their names to be pulled.

Essential Conditions for Technology Integration

Some essential conditions for technology integration with the Promethean Board are:

·      Meaningful training on the hardware

·      Meaningful training on the software

·      Being knowledgeable of upgrades and their costs

·      Keeping up with the resources that are available

·      Modeling the correct usage of the hardware/software

Software Support Tools

The Popsicle Stick flip chart is best described as a Planning and Organizing Tool because it helps teachers direct student involvement. Whether it be as simple as choosing someone to answer a question or calling on someone to continue a discussion, pulling a popsicle stick gives each student an equal opportunity to interact with the lessons and discussions in the classroom. The Popsicle Stick flip chart is an effective management tool that saves time and bias within the classroom.

Module 3

Search Engines

Learning to use search engines can enable students to find the best information for their educational needs. Luckily, schools have filters to eliminate students coming in contact with unwanted topics or information, but learning to use search engines effectively can make the research task effortless. By using search engines correctly, students have a wide range of detailed information at their fingertips. They can search for specific topics all in the same place without having to go through numerous resources such as textbooks or articles. Google is my go to search engine, what is yours?

Website Evaluation

This video about website evaluation could be a great resource in my classroom because it is simple and to the point. I think that students could easily remember the acronym, R.E.A.L., that is presented in the video. It gives students a quick reference for what to look for when they are evaluating the integrity of different websites.

Favorite Website #1

 One of my most recent favorite websites is Smart Exchange. A teacher that I worked with recently told me about this site and how she uses it daily in her classroom. There are numerous lessons for the Smart Board, but my favorite thing she used it for was attendance. I have navigated through the site several times since, and I love all of the options for the Smart Board that they provide. The website has good structure and organization with their main categories and then sub categories from there. You can search and narrow to fit your needs quite efficiently.

Favorite Website #2

I like Mrs. Koopman's 5th Grade Wiki. It is a classroom wiki that promotes care, contribution, collaboration, celebration, and cooperation. There is a good description of what a wiki is and why to use it. I think that this wiki is easy to navigate, and it has good structure and organization. 

I am eager to learn more about wikis and how to use them in the classroom! 

 

Module 2: Hypermedia and Multimedia Tools for Teaching and Learning

 Commercial Hypermedia Product

Commercial Hypermedia Products are widely used in most classroom environments today. Commercial Hypermedia Products are divided into four different categories: instructional software, interactive or electronic storybooks, reference materials, and collections of development resources. 

I am going to dive deeper into the "collections of development resources" category within this post. I believe that many educators use this category in their daily instruction. Collection of development resources is a fancy reference name for clip art, photos, fun fonts, animations, charts, templates, sound clips, etc. These are the enhancers of your technology-based instructional practices. These enhancers can be as simple as a chosen font or PowerPoint template. We, as teachers, are unaware of how often we make adjustments with collections of development resources. 

I am including a link to a free font website (http://www.urbanfonts.com/). On this website, you can search for fun, new fonts for your personal use (presentations, newsletters, visual aids, schedules, etc.). The options are endless! You can search for something specific, or you can browse by category (new fonts, top 100, etc.). You can search by font characteristic (dotted, USA, western, adventure). It's always fun to be able to create something of your own that reflects your personality and serves an important purpose in your classroom. Changing something as simple as a font can make your visual presentation of information more appealing to you, parents, and students.

Chosen Multimedia Authoring Tool

A multimedia tool that I am looking forward to using in my own classroom is Virtual Environments! With field trips becoming more scarce, a virtual environment can take students to a new place without them ever leaving the classroom. Students will have the opportunity to experience new places and things from the comfort of their classroom. They will be able to see things that they never dreamed of seeing, while you, the teacher, give them an experience of a lifetime! Not only can you experience field trips that you've never been  apart of yourself, but you can also make virtual field trips of your own. This is a great way to give back to other students that may not be able to physically experience something close to your school. So, remember to take lots of pictures and gather information on your own trips, in order to upload them into a virtual field trip of your own later!

Go on a tour of The Great Wall of China here. 

 

Welcome!

Hi! My name is Ashleigh Harlow, and welcome to my blog! I am a senior at the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama. I am studying Elementary Education, and I will graduate in the Fall of this year. I am a daughter, a sister, and a friend, but above all, I am a mom to a daughter (Dakota Cheyenne) and a son (Leighton Bentley). I will be welcoming a new little mister in May, and his name is Lincoln Colt. I love all things education, and I can't wait to have a classroom of my own very soon!