The article "Technology and Social Studies: An Introduction" the author Charles White discusses how technology has and is impacting technology. One important aspect of the impact of technology in social studies, and in any subject for that matter, is that today's students attention is often lost if not visual and technologically stimulated. In classrooms that are strictly textbooks and worksheet based students have little to no desire to learn. The virtual school provides students information through a media that interests them: the internet. Virtual schools, in addition to other technological innovations have provided a way to "attract and hold the attention of a new generation of young computer users, whose expectations for such realism have grown exponentially over the years."
One of the other benefits that the internet provides for social studies that this article mentions is that students are connected globally through newer technologies. White states "students and teachers are put in touch with resources around the world." By having access to people and places around the globe at their fingertips, students are better able to understand world cultures and regions that they may not be able to visit due to location or financial reasons. "Getting connected to distant people, places, and resources is the second great explosion of technology in recent years."
The virtual school that I am observing this semester is attended freely by students all over the state but is available to anyone at a fee. Other virtual schools and courses that I have perused throughout this course have students who attend from around the globe - such as the graduate course in which I am enrolled. Through discussion, blogging, and forums students learn about each other and the places they are from. Thus, culture is shared at the click of a button like never before.
http://members.ncss.org/se/6103/610303.html
One of the other benefits that the internet provides for social studies that this article mentions is that students are connected globally through newer technologies. White states "students and teachers are put in touch with resources around the world." By having access to people and places around the globe at their fingertips, students are better able to understand world cultures and regions that they may not be able to visit due to location or financial reasons. "Getting connected to distant people, places, and resources is the second great explosion of technology in recent years."
The virtual school that I am observing this semester is attended freely by students all over the state but is available to anyone at a fee. Other virtual schools and courses that I have perused throughout this course have students who attend from around the globe - such as the graduate course in which I am enrolled. Through discussion, blogging, and forums students learn about each other and the places they are from. Thus, culture is shared at the click of a button like never before.
http://members.ncss.org/se/6103/610303.html
3 comments:
While the media used in virtual classes can often be used in the regular classroom and does help caputre attention, virtual course also provide flexibility for the individual student. If students are working in a virtual course and do not have a rigid schedule of being online at given times while everyone else is online some of the issues apparent in classrooms today could be eliminated. I say could because other similar issues could be present where ever they are working and additional issues arise. Just to focus on some positives: sStudents no longer have to deal with disruptive classmates, rumbling stomachs because lunch is still 30 minutes away, and have some flexibility in learning when they are the most focused.
I have learned so much by having students from around the world in my virtual classes. I can really see advantages in social studies.
Without a doubt, I have seen how the virtual school is making a difference in math education. Your quote about attracting and holding the attention of students is right on. Students use technology to learn the math and submit assignments. While gaining knowledge for the class because they need it to graduate, they are also learning the technology, which they will need for the 'real world.'
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