WIKANLEARN HISTORY: WEB 2.0 IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOM

BY MARIA T. CARROCCIA

Application and implications of “Retooling the Social Studies Classroom for the Current Generation” by Elizabeth K. Wilson, Vivian H. Wright, Christopher T. Inman, and Lisa H. Matherson.

WHY IS TECHNOLOGY SO IMPORTANT?

Today’s Students:• Are more likely to communicate via text or

social networks• Expect instant gratification• Are easily bored by traditional instruction • Technology can provide access to a new

foundation for content

Technology should assert “ the need to capitalize on many students ubiquitous, yet social, use of such technology and demonstrate the technology’s power as a tool for learning”National Council for the Social Studies 2006

WHAT IS WEB 2.0? Web that focuses on collaboration,

participation, interaction, and the formation of social networks.

Examples Blogs Digital Media Sharing Social networks Web spaces such as Wikispace

BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM Can be used as a journal or personal

commentary Can be used to share links, images, video Easy way to have multiple resources in one

place Perfect for government or current event

discussions Grammar and structure should be included in

assessment to promote proper formatting

WIKI’S IN THE CLASSROOM Flexibility

Can be a traditional website or a collaborative effort

Great place to give students access to media and reliable information

Easily customizable for each class Gives the class a sense of pride since they are

able to actually build the wiki Easily facilitates peer review and commentary A great culminating project is having a class use

the Wiki and the information on it as a study guide for an exam!

DIGITAL MEDIA SHARING IN THE CLASSROOM

Can be video, audio, music, commentary, or images

Growing use and importance of podcasts and vodcasts, especially in political commentary

Allows access to different viewpoints and information

Classes could even create their own vodcast as part of a project or assessment

HOW CAN I USE THIS? Have your class post a discussion topic on a

wiki about something they read in the news that week. On Friday, have the entire class discuss some of the threads.

Have small groups of students create a vodcast about a key figure in the American Revolution that will be shown to the rest of the class.

As part of a civil rights lesson, ask your students to blog about how the civil rights movement has impacted them or their family.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Wilson, Elizabeth K., Vivian H. Wright,

Christopher T. Inman, and Lisa H. Matherson. "Retooling the Social Studies Classroom for the Current Generation." The Social Studies 102.2 (2011): 65-72. Web.

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/section?content=a933989421&fulltext=713240928