Integrating Technology with Social Studies

Integrating technology into any lesson is a great way to get students engaged and ready to learn. Although using technology is exciting with the advantages that it brings along, it also has a few disadvantages also.

Advantages of Integrating Technology

According to Roblyer, technology allows for a variety of strategies to enhance learning for the diverse topics and concepts that comprise social studies content (Roblyer, 2016, p. 340). Using videos, virtual field trips, simulations, and problem-solving environments are great ways to make social studies more interesting. Some simulations and problem-solving resources for social studies include Muzzy Lane's Making History and iCivics.

I grew up doing many papers in social studies about historical figures and used the internet as a source for my information. By using the internet, you are also giving students an easier outlet to find up-to-date information (Roblyer, 2016, p. 341).

Disadvantages of Integrating Technology

I feel like there are very little if any disadvantages to using technology with Social Studies. The teacher whose room I am in this semester for Social Studies uses technology with almost every lesson she teaches and the students love it. You do have to be careful about what sources you use and make sure it is a valid source before introducing it to the class. As stated earlier, it is beneficial for students to use the internet to look up information about historical figures, etc. However, you must be careful about what websites they use to find their information. Wikipedia, for example, is one website students should be made aware of and told not to use. It is a website easily accessed by anyone and the information found on it is often inaccurate. 

Roblyer stated that social studies is often placed on the back burner since it is a content area that is not usually among those in statewide assessments (Roblyer, 2016, p. 338). Since this is true, it can be found difficult to find social studies sources at times.

Specific Activities, Programs, etc. 

Listed below are some resources given by Roblyer for Social Studies:

Electronic Research: Democratic and Republican Party websites, Ellis Island Records, U.S. Congress, The White House, and Census in Schools.

Information Visiualization Resources: Social Explorer and Gapminder websites, Neighborhood Map Machine and DIY Map software, Time Liner XE, and Graph Club software and NCES Create-a-Graph website.

Virtual Field Trips: U.S. Capitol Tour website, Explore Ancient Egypt website, National Museum of Natural History website, Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon websites. 

Adventure Learning: Go North!, The Jason Project, and Adventure Learning Experience. 

Module 3: Theory into Practice/Beyond the Basics

Materials Generators

A materials generator that is available to you as a Google app is Google Docs. It allows you to create documents such as letters, brochures, etc. while also having the capability to share it with others.
Another materials generator that is good to use is Microsoft Office Publisher. This allows you to create the same documents that Google Docs allows. According to Roblyer, allowing students to use publishing software gives them an advantage over a powerful form of communication (p. 144).

Data Collection & Analysis Tools

A data collection and analysis tool that is good to use in the classroom is Google Forms. This is a Google application that allows you to create student response systems. 

Another data collection and analysis tool you could use is Plickers. I absolutely love this tool and plan to use it in my future classroom. It is a great way to keep students engaged while collecting data about their knowledge of a subject area.

Testing & Grading Tools

A testing and grading tool that is great to use is Google Sheets. This is a Google app that is easy to use when it comes to creating a digital grade book. The application averages totals for you after all of your information is entered. My Cooperative Teacher actually showed this to me the other day and walked me through how it works. It is always a good idea to keep a paper copy as a back up, but I really love that there is a digital version out to be used.

Another testing and grading tool is RubiStar. I used this during my assessment class last semester to create rubrics. You just plug in your information and the website generates a rubric for you. It is super easy and a great tool to use. According to Roblyer, the demand for rubrics has risen lately so there are several other internet sites that offer rubric generators (p. 156).

Graphics Tools

A great graphic tool that allows you to draw diagrams is Lucidchart for Education. This is a great Google Add-on for students and educators to easily draw, edit, and share professional diagrams. Lucidchart offers different categories, so whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will be able to learn how to use it effectively.

Another grapic tool is Tagul. This is a word cloud generator that makes it easy for anyone to create a word cloud. There are tons of different words, shapes, fonts, and colors to choose from when creating yours!

Planning & Organizing Tools

A planning and organizing tool that is great to use if you have a busy schedule is Gantter for Google Drive. This is a Google Add-on that makes scheduling easy. The website stated that it is also great to use if you have a big project coming up and you need to stay on track.

Another planning and organizing tool that would be great to use in the classroom is Planboard. This is an amazing internet site that makes it simple to stay organized, create lesson plans and access them anywhere, add curriculum sets, and manage your schedule easily. According to Roblyer, teachers rely heavily on lesson plans to guide their teaching activities (p. 161). I believe this internet site would make that a little easier for you.

Research & Reference Tools

A great research and reference tool to use is Google My Maps. This is a great Google app that allows students to explore different types of maps. You can also create your own custom map and share it with friends. I could deffinately see a teacher using this in their classroom as a part of a project.

Another research and reference tool that would be great for students to use is Encyclopedia. This is a website that gives you information from encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses, etc. This is a great idea to use when needing to gather facts, word meanings, synonyms, and more. I would deffinately use this in my future classroom.

Content-area Tool

A great content-area tool for reading in the classroom is Fluency Tutor for Google. This allows teachers to help struggling readers catch up with their peers. This is a great Google Add-on for struggling readers or students learning English as a second language. 

Another content-are tool for language is Google Translate. This would be helpful for English learners to use when trying to write in the English language. Sometimes students need a little help with translating words when they are learning a new language and I believe this website would be beneficial for them at times. 

Online Tools, Uses, and Web-Based Development

Search Engines

I wonder how anyone ever made it without search engines. I google anything and everything these days, and having a smartphone makes this accessible at all times. Search engines help us locate information on the web. It is very important that we teach our students how to use search engines so they are able to find reliable information for projects, etc. Roblyer suggests teaching students to use keywords in search engines instead of questions, also show them how to use advanced search tools to narrow their searches (p. 184).

Website Evaluation Video

I really enjoyed this video and believe it is appropriate for an elementary classroom to better explain websites and their validity. This video shows students how to find out if a website is a reliable source or not. If I were to use this in the classroom, after showing it to the class I would display a checklist for evaluating websites like Roblyer does on page 198.

Favorite Professional Websites

There are so many websites I go to for reliable information. Using the evaluation checklist by Roblyer, I was able to provide two websites that fit the criteria listed (Roblyer, 2016, p. 198).

Scholastic is a favorite of mine that I use quite often. This website allows you to browse book suggestions, activities for students, lesson plans, information about common core, etc. This website is gold and not to mention FREE!

Education World is a website that I came across recently. This website provides lesson plans, administrator sources, teacher essentials, technology information, etc. Education World has to much to offer and just like Scholastic, it is also FREE!

Online Safety and Security

Although we all love the internet, there are certain safety precautions we need to take and that should be taught to students. Roblyer suggests installing Firewall software or Filtering software to help with keeping track of what students can access and keeping outsiders from accessing your computer and its files (Roblyer, 2016, p. 174). I also find it important to teach students about the importance of not sharing personal information online and the effects of cyberbullying. 

Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching. Boston:

              Pearson/Allyon and Bacon.

The "Basic Three"

According to Roblyer (2016), in most areas of modern society three of the most used software support tools are word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs. Using these allow for improved productivity, appearance, accuracy, and supports interaction and collaboration (Roblyer, 2016, p.109)

Word Processing Software:
Word processing software (for example: Microsoft Word) allows you to create documents of typed text and graphics. This software is also easy to use and many prefer it over written text. Word processor allows you to save time, enhance a documents appearance, share documents, collaborate on documents, and support student writing and language learning (Roblyer, 2016, p.114-115).

Although there are many benefits of using word processor, the software also has a few issues. When using it, many have to figure out at what age a student should begin getting introduced to it and learning their keyboarding skills. Some teachers believe that by using word processor, it will impact students handwritting negaitvely.

Spreadsheet Software: 
Spreadsheet software (for example: Microsoft Excel) allows you to organize and calculate numerical data. This software is beneficial when needing to keep track of budgets, student's grades, cash flow, etc. Spreadsheet allows you to save time, organize displays of information, support asking "what if" questions, and increases motivation to work with mathematics.

An issue with spreadsheets is that many whom fear mathematics, also fear this software. So before using spreadsheets, I would recommend allowing students to get comfortable with it first. Help your students see that this software can help them and further their math abilities.

Presentation Software: 
Presentation software (for example: Microsoft PowerPoint) allows you to display information, including text, images, audio, and video, in a slideshow format (Roblyer, 2016, p.125). Having presentation softwares allow teachers to present a topic and keep it engaging by doing things such as review games, virtual fieldtrips, etc. Teachers use this software to organize thinking about a topic, enhance the impact of spoken information, and allow collaboration on presentations (Roblyer, 2016, p.127).

Although many love presentation softwares, there are a few down falls to them. Many believe that they can be a "trap for bad teaching" and say that presentations can often distract students, making them focus more on the presentation imagery and not the information itself.

Classroom Chosen Software: 
In my classroom, I would use presentation softwares the most with word processors coming in at a close second. One of my favorite presentation methods is a website called Nearpod. I learned about this in my Lit-Block classes at the university I attend. It has so many ways to present a topic to your class while keeping your students very engaged.

Below is an example of a Nearpod presentation and how it is used:

Roblyer, M. D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into 
           teaching. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

This Is Me

If you are reading this, then welcome. 

I wanted to make a quick blog to introduce myself. 

I am currently a Senior at the University of Montevallo, majoring in Elementary Education. All of my life I grew up around my Mother being a pre-school teacher, which I believe helped lead me into becoming a teacher. I get so much enjoyment out of watching students learn and get excited about it. I feel like it takes a special person to be a teacher and give their all to their students. I hope to be the teacher that makes learning fun and creates a fun, safe, and welcoming environment for the students.

I recently took a job as the In-charge Teacher at Creekview Elementary's after school care program. Working at the elementary school has helped me confirm that I am in the correct field and that I do want to become a teacher. I love all of the students that I have in the program (all 150 or so of them). I am excited to be finishing up my last year in school, while also juggling a job in my future field. This is going to be a long and difficult year, but I am so ready to see the finished product and officially call myself a teacher.

Stay tuned for my future blogs about using technology in the classroom!