Advantages and Disadvantages of Integrating Technology in the Social Studies Classroom

   The use of technology in the Social Studies classroom, I believe, is advantageous beyond measure. It is a subject where technology was not often used while I was in school, however, the discipline would benefit greatly with increasing the integration of technology in the classroom. Of course with the numerous advantages of using technology in Social Studies classrooms, there are bound to be a few disadvantages as well.   

Advantages of Integrating Technology

    The most important advantage, in my opinion, is the sheer level of engagement by students when technology is used in the classroom. More specifically, the use of technology in Social Studies provides students with access to updated information about the world. "Social studies instruction is designed to help us discover and better understand our world and its people, and technology based strategies have become integral to this instruction" (Roblyer, 2016, p.336). By definition, Social Studies is the study of the world and technology allows students to be connected to the world in which they are studying. The access to information also includes the benefit of accessibility to primary sources via the Internet. Another major benefit of the use of technology in Social Studies is the ability to simulate important historic events or locations. "Simulations allow students to take part in historical situations that would not otherwise be possible due to historical or physical distance" (Roblyer, 2016, p. 340). The following link:  http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/technology/how-technology-changed-my-social-studies-classroom/ includes some ideas using simulations in the teaching of Social Studies. 

Disadvantages of Integrating Technology

  I believe the biggest disadvantage in using technology in Social Studies classroom is the chance in finding unreliable sources and students basing their work off of these untrustworthy websites. Roblyer (2016) points out, "History has many examples of using manipulated images to control people's impressions and opinions" (p.341). Students are no exception to this statement and are often influenced by false information on the Internet. Roblyer (2016) also explains that as teachers we need to teach our students digital citizen skills, "These skills include analyzing images for hidden meaning and telling fact from fiction in articles, reports, and websites" (p.341). The other major disadvantage to using technology in a Social Studies classroom is the risk of altering the relationship between teacher and students through the phenomenon of "Information Explosion". Although accessibility to sources and information is an overall positive, Roblyer (2016) discusses how it could alter the traditional relationship between students and teacher because "teachers are no longer to primary source of facts or opinions" (p.339). The following link explains the dangers of "Information  Explosion" and its effect on information literacy:  https://jacquelynpwhite.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/theeffectsoftheinformationexplosiononinformationliteracyedits-doc.pdf   

Specific Activities, Programs, Etc. 

Simulations: ex. Oregon Trail or Muzzy Lane's Making History

Critiquing Information Resources: ex. Don't Buy It (PBS Kids) or Photo Forgery (NY Times Article)

Electronic Research Resources: ex. Ellis Island Records

Information Visualization Resources: ex. Time Liner XE software

Virtual Field Trip: ex. Colonial Willamsburg website or Explore Ancient Egypt website

Adventure Learning: ex. The Jason Project

Digital Storytelling: ex. PBS Civil War (National Archives and Records Administration)

Geospatial Analysis Strategies: ex. Geocaching or Teaching with GIS 

21st Century Technology in the Classroom

Materials Generators

• Doc to Form Add-On:
• This Google doc add- on helps “produce instructional materials” (Roblyer, 2016, p.141). This add-on takes Google documents and creates forms that teachers can use as instructional materials.
• (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/doc-to-form)
• Worksheet Generator:
• This website allows teachers to create worksheets to give students to help with various lessons and exercises.
• (http://www.education.com/worksheet-generator/)

Data Collection and Analysis Tools

• Revision History Analytics Add-On:
• This add-on I was particularly excited about because it automatically creates summaries and charts showing the user's’ interaction with the particular document. This type of software would be particularly helpful when students are collaborating and the teacher needs to see what interactions each student had with the document.
• (http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2016/05/google-docs-addons.html)
• Behavioral Assessment Generator:
• This software is a tool for teachers to track and organize behavioral incidents in the classroom. It helps “teachers collect or organize information to provide feedback and support decision making” (Roblyer, 2016, p.141).
• (http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/fba/)

Testing and Grading Tools

• OrangeSlice Teacher Rubric:
• This is a Google Doc add-on that helps “collect and track assessment information to measure student progress” (Roblyer, 2016, p.141). I particularly like this add-on because I think rubrics are beneficial not only to teachers, but also gives students precise expectations for them to follow.
• (http://www.edgaged.net/2015/10/orange-slice-rubrics.html)
• Quizlet:
• Quizlet is a website that provides teachers with the software needed to create quizzes, tests, and exams in an easy to fill out interface.  
• (https://quizlet.com)

Graphics Tools

• LucidChart Diagrams:
• This a great Google Doc add-on for both students and teachers because it allows the user to create charts and diagrams to better organize information or materials.
• (https://www.lucidchart.com)
• Map Manipulator:
• This website based software allows its users to draw on maps and customize them for educational use.
• (https://www.scribblemaps.com/)

Planning  and Organizing Tools

• Doc-IQ:
• This Google Doc add-on helps “teachers and students conceptualize, organize, and communicate their ideas” (Roblyer, 2016, p.141) by allowing its users to set deadlines for individual people or sections inside of the document.  
• Lesson Plan Generator:
• I found this website helpful because it provided software to help teachers easily organize their lessons into properly outlined lesson plans
• (http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/lesson_plan/)

Research and Reference Tools

• SAS Writing Review:
• This Google Doc add-on was suggested to me from one of the teachers that we visited while observing technology use in the classroom at Hoover City Schools. It “assists with using correct spelling and word use” (Roblyer, 2016, p.142), which is important for students when writing essays.
• (http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2015/10/4-great-google-docs-add-ons-to-help.html)
• Google maps:
• This is a great reference tools, especially in Social Science classes, because it allows for students to have a visual of the locations that they are learning about.
• (https://maps.google.com)

Content-Area Tool

• Google Translate:
• This Google extension is not only helpful in foreign language classes but also helps translate any website into English that might be useful in the classroom.   
• (http://thenextweb.com/google/2014/10/16/google-introduces-google-translate-chrome-extension-inline-translations-text/)
• iCivics:
• This is another software that was highly reviewed by a teacher while on our observation trip in Hoover City Schools. This website offers lesson plans and interactive learning games for Social Science classrooms.
• (https://www.icivics.org/)

A Look at Online Tools and Web Security

Search Engines and Web Navigation:

In order for my students to use the Internet for research, I have to be able to teach them. I think it is incredibly important for teachers to be proficient with search engines so they can teach their students how to find information on the Internet. Once you are familiar with search engines, you realize that this knowledge helps you do research quicker and find more reliable websites. For example, Subject Index searches are a good way to find many websites at once that pertain to one topic. "The search engine site provides a list of topics you can click on" (Roblyer 2016, p.183). I believe it is a smart way to begin research since you are presented with many different resources at once all related to your topic. Another example would be using advanced searches. "Keyword searches in search engines allow several kinds of "advanced search" options to narrow the search for you so you won't get so many irrelevant hits" (Roblyer 2016, p.183). You can use this option to filter your results making it easier to find the information you are searching for.

Website Evaluation Video:

I plan on showing this video before doing any extensive research for a project. I believe this video does a good job in explaining the different types of websites and how their information may be biased based on the domain type.  

Favorite Websites:

1. http://www.learner.org- Annenberg Learner

This website is beneficial because its “content is free from bias” (Roblyer 2016, p. 198). It has many helpful tools such as lesson plans that can help me as a new teacher.

2. http://www.nea.org/- National Education Association

I think this website’s content is not only helpful but it is also extremely easy to navigate because “you can get to information  within three clicks” (Roblyer 2016, p. 198).

Online Safety and Security:

Privacy issues are a huge concern to me as a future educator. I believe many privacy issues stem from teachers and administrators making careless mistakes and releasing personal information about their students. I think in our day in age, it is easy to accidently post personal information. One example could be posting a picture to snapchat showing all the papers you have graded but in doing so accidently posted a child’s full name and grade they received. The book points out that “teachers should be careful not to identify students with last names, addresses and other personal information” (Roblyer 2016, p.175). I think it is important to be aware of how easy it is to make these errors in hopes of avoiding them.

Technology Tools in the Classroom

“The Basic Three”: Technology Tools in the Classroom

In this blog post I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of what is referred to as “The Basic Three” which include: Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Presentation Software.

Word Processing Software

Word processing programs allow for versatility and flexibility in the classroom not only for students, but also for teachers by allowing sharing of documents. These programs make it easy for students to share and revise each others work, while also allowing teachers to share lesson plans and worksheets. Word Processing programs also support writing and language learning even for physically impaired students. “Adaptive keyboards and voice recognition capabilities make writing more accessible for students with physical challenges” (Roblyer, 2016, p.115). One disadvantage of word processing programs is the need to teach keyboarding skills. Those in favor of teaching keyboarding skills believe that it is the only way the students will become truly productive on the computer. However, educators opposed to spending extensive time learning proper typing techniques believe that time would be better spent learning more important information and that typing skills will come along as they use the programs (Roblyer, 2016, p.116).

Spreadsheet Software

 “A spreadsheet helps users manage numbers in the same way that word processing helps them manage words” (Roblyer, 2016, p.121).  These types of programs are beneficial to the classroom in several different ways including: keeping budgets, completing time-consuming calculation quickly and even summarizing data. They are also helpful by increasing students’ motivation do mathematics. “Students sometimes perceive mathematical concepts as dry and boring; spreadsheets can make these concepts so graphic that students express real delight with seeing how they work” (Roblyer, 2016, p.121). One of the disadvantages of spreadsheet software programs is that the programs take time to learn how to use them. I can speak personally on this issue because I always had trouble using these types of programs while I was in school, even after being shown by the instructor how to complete a certain task on numerous occasions.

Presentation Software

Presentation software is intended to display text, audio and video information in a slideshow format. Perhaps the biggest benefit of these types of programs is enhancing the effect of spoken word. “When a presentation product is well designed, it supports and supplements what the speaker says, using graphics and multimedia to give illustrations and drive home points with images and sounds” (Roblyer, 2016, p.127). The main conflict educators have with presentation software is that it can be used as a aid for teachers presenting information in front of the class and furthermore encourage “bad teaching” styles.

Classroom Use: Presentation Software

History is one subject that is often associated with long, wordy lectures and copious amounts of note taking. However, I believe that teaching History can be exciting when photographs, sound clips and videos pertaining to the topic are used to give students tangible ideas of what that moment in history may have looked or sounded like. My favorite time period to study is the Cold War era. I have included a video of a speech from President Kennedy declaring Nuclear War during the Cuban Missile Crisis. This is an example of how I would use presentation software to show my students monumental moments in history instead of simply talking about it.  

Introduction Blog

I believe that learning should be engaging for both the teacher and the students. I want my students to feel connected to History and learn its significance to modern events, instead of it simply being a study of the past events. With that being said, I will be teaching social sciences at either the middle or high school level. I am passionate about because I had so many educators in my best that deeply impacted who I am and the choices I made growing up. I want to share my passion for social sciences with students and make the learning of Social Sciences into something students can be excited about.