Tech-enhanced Inquiry and the Middle Level History and Social Studies GE’s
Topic: Enhancing History and Social Studies Inquiry with Technology
Source/author: John Downes
Intended Purpose: To help teachers and others discern rich opportunities for using technology to address the History and Social Studies GE’s.
Intended Audience: Middle level teachers, technologists, and administrators interested in finding connections between technology and History and Social Studies inquiry.
Resource Requirements: Word-compatible document reader.
Abstract: Four attached Word documents contain adapted versions of Vermont’s History and Social Studies GE’s. Particular GE’s were highlighted for their relevance to technology and inquiry. While technology can readily be usefully applied to just about any GE, the highlighted GE’s appeared (rather subjectively) to meet the following test:
Not to apply technology to meeting the standard would (1) ignore how technology is applied to the GE in the real world, and (2) raise serious questions about whether students are being denied best opportunities to master the GE.
The Files:
Highlighted SS GEs… present the complete GE’s for the 5-6 and 7-8 grade clusters with specific GE’s italicized and marked with a T.
Selected SS GEs… present only the selected GE’s for the 5-6 and 7-8 grade clusters, deleting the other GE’s. This resource does not take the next step of suggesting specific technologies or unit designs to bring the GE’s to life. They are meant to be conversation starters for collaborative planning between teachers, technologists, and other curriculum developers.
Topic: Enhancing History and Social Studies Inquiry with Technology
Source/author: John Downes
Intended Purpose: To help teachers and others discern rich opportunities for using technology to address the History and Social Studies GE’s.
Intended Audience: Middle level teachers, technologists, and administrators interested in finding connections between technology and History and Social Studies inquiry.
Resource Requirements: Word-compatible document reader.
Abstract: Four attached Word documents contain adapted versions of Vermont’s History and Social Studies GE’s. Particular GE’s were highlighted for their relevance to technology and inquiry. While technology can readily be usefully applied to just about any GE, the highlighted GE’s appeared (rather subjectively) to meet the following test:
Not to apply technology to meeting the standard would (1) ignore how technology is applied to the GE in the real world, and (2) raise serious questions about whether students are being denied best opportunities to master the GE.
The Files:
Highlighted SS GEs… present the complete GE’s for the 5-6 and 7-8 grade clusters with specific GE’s italicized and marked with a T.
Selected SS GEs… present only the selected GE’s for the 5-6 and 7-8 grade clusters, deleting the other GE’s. This resource does not take the next step of suggesting specific technologies or unit designs to bring the GE’s to life. They are meant to be conversation starters for collaborative planning between teachers, technologists, and other curriculum developers.
No
Teachers are currently grappling with new History and Social Studies GE’s. They are confronted with particularly challenging inquiry expectations. While technology can enhance just about any GE, making the most of technology for inquiry may require a special focus. The attached documents are meant to focus attention on those GE’s that may present particularly powerful opportunities for technology integration and inquiry. The selections are not doubt subjective and likely overlook many other important opportunities. They are merely one set of possible selections, intended to focus attention on some of the possibilities.
