Social Studies, Constructivism, and Technology

Reference:

http://www.tojet.net/articles/v5i1/512.pdf


Review/Summary:

In this article entitled, "An Examination of the Relationship between the Integration of Technology into Social Studies and Constructivist Pedagogies" by Cemalettin AYAS of The Ohio State University, the author noted the importance of effective technology use in the area of Social Studies and its relation to the theories of learning that involve constructivism through the use of technology.  As technology is incorporated in the classroom and paired with constructivism in the subject of Social Studies, a wonderful learning experience can take place.

Some reasons for technology use that remain prevalent include the fact that it is all around us and should therefore also be included in the classroom.  Also, there has been research to document that methods involving computer use have been shown to be effective.  Motivation remains a chief element for inspiring technology use in education.

Social Studies has been recognized as an essential subject in our country and through the world. Since the subjects incorporates many disciplines, it is often hard to define.  Generally, most of those in the field of education believe that Social Studies has to do with studying humans from many views while keeping citizenship education at the forefront.  Decision-making that will benefit the public is emphasized that also encourages young people to remember their citizenship role.

Reflection:

As I taught this subject to students, I definitely saw students who were more motivated when I allowed the integration of technology into the classroom through virtual field trips, interactive games that focused on this subject matter, and the incorporation of video clips or full videos relating to the subject matter.