Social Studies: Technology Integration Plan

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1--PJatQY9Mxtz7KZ8Y-7RALhdBJTviqO0_LJuHw8-Kc/edit?usp=sharing

My integrated lesson plan (which, theoretically, would pan out over the course of a few days) addresses the Civil War by splitting it into three separate phases.  First, it explores the varied causes of tension between the North and South that ultimately led to the declaration of war.  Second, it highlights the major battles and turning points of the Civil War and how they differentially affected both the North and the South.  Third, it delves into the post-war reconstruction process and explores the consequences of the war in both the North and the South and both side’s post-war reconstruction efforts.  This lesson plan abides by the New Jersey Common Core Curriculum Standards and employs the use of varied technologies throughout each of the three phases to better promote understanding.  

I was very pleased with the separation of the Civil War into distinct phases in the New Jersey Common Core.  Such organization made it very easy to implement a lesson plan that I believed not only flowed well, but was also aligned with New Jersey’s curricular expectations.  The first content based standard I used addresses the main causes of the Civil War, mainly the legality or illegality of slavery as the United States expanded west, as well as the controversial secession of South Carolina (two name the two most prominent causes).  I really like the idea of using a K-W-L chart so that I could have a better idea of what the level of content knowledge and understanding my students have prior to the lesson.  This will allow me to direct special attention to certain areas of need.  The K portion of the K-W-L asks students to compile a list of the things they already know about a certain topic.  Students in this scenario would first compile lists on their own as individuals and then I would bring it to a class wide discussion so that students can share their thoughts and ideas with the rest of the class and maybe even shed light on some things that some students were unaware of.  Students answers will be recorded on the smartboard so that they could be referred back to later as a class.  I will then give the students a mini lecture on the two major causes of the Civil War- slavery and the looming threat of secession of the South.  This lecture will be followed by a short video from youtube illustrating the major causes of the war and the passing the actual document declaring South Carolina’s secession from the Union.  I want students to be informed not only by secondary sources but primary sources as well.  I think it’s hard to replicate the utility and non-biased nature of primary sources of information.  This portion of the lesson engages the ITSE standard for personalization and customization of activities to address each student’s unique learning styles.  This column of my matrix utilizes teacher delivered lectures as well as content rich videos to better understanding.  

The second column of my matrix aims at trying to get students to draw inferences from a digital map of the Civil War (designed, most likely, by myself) that outlines the paths of the Union and Confederate armies and highlights the major battles and events that took place during the war.  My goal here is to have my students make certain inferences regarding the details of the fighting period of the war.  For example, I would hope that students would make the connection between the number of major manufacturers in the north as opposed to the south and and question whether or not that affected the supplies of each army during the war.  I also want students to gain not only an understanding, but also an appreciation for how costly the war was so I will provide tables that detail the death counts of certain battles of the war, most notably, Antietam.  This column satisfies the ITSE standard of using a variety of file types because it uses strictly visual (map) and statistical (tables) modes of presentation.  

The third column of my matrix addresses the aftermath of the Civil War, specifically, the reconstruction period.  At this point in the lesson I want to have my students complete anticipation guides which ask certain yes or no statement questions.  Such statements could be: the south has a right to expand slavery in the western states.  The north has the right to interfere with the south’s affairs.  Slavery should be decided by each state’s government and no the federal government.  Such questions I think would really generate a nice productive discussion amongst the class.  I will then show the students a TED talk that addresses these issues and afterwards have them revisit their original statements to see if anything has changed.  This activity engages ITSE standard of having students reflect by using a variety of tools and methods of information presentation.  I would be very interested to see how many of my students, upon reflecting on their original statements given the new information, would make changes.  

Padlet Unit Plan

http://padlet.com/wall/9mj8irrp8gm4

I chose this topic for my unit lesson because I think it's effects can still be felt within the educational system in this country today.  The emphasis on STEM was propelled by the Cold War and the ensuing space race.
My essential questions aimed to ask students to think critically about the time period and how both countries were affected politically, socially, and economically.  Why exactly were we in such a state of competition with the Soviet Union and what were we hoping to accomplish?  I have never been particularly fond of lesson plans that emphasize dates and facts.  This lesson plan, guided by my essential questions will steer the discussion in a more conceptual and analytical direction.  Students will be required to consider the time period as a whole and make key critical and responsible evaluations and draw reasonable and thoughtful conclusions.
There is avery interesting, albeit short, TED talk on Sputnik and the mass changes to the United States educational system that were made in response to it.  I am a huge fan of TED talks because they encourage viewers to ponder what was, what is, and what could be.  Evernote is a very useful tool that will help the students to organize information from what is a very long time period into categorical and easily accessible topics.  This will make the processing of the information, as well as future studying of the information more manageable.

Note Taking: Evernote

Note Taking: Evernote

https://evernote.com/?var=c

Evernote is an app that takes note taking to the next level!  Evernote allows users to both organize and share their notes.  Notes can be sorted by both subject and topic, thus making area specific notes more easily accessible.  Perhaps the biggest advantage of Evernote is its sharing feature.  Users of this app are able to share their notes or sections of their notes with each other. This is particularly important in the classroom when students miss taking down valuable information.  This also encourages sharing and cooperation amongst students, a nice bonus!

Evernote basic is free to use, however Evernote does offer certain upgrades that range in price from $24.99-$49.99 per year.  

This particular app supports instruction in social studies particularly well given the note-intensive nature of social studies teaching.  I really like the ability to divide notes into certain topics and subtopics.  I would most likely design the lecture based portion of my classes around this.  I would make it a point to notify students when it might be best to start a new page or topic so that they can most easily and efficiently access particular information in the future as needed. 

I suppose the only limitation to an app like this is that you run the risk of students using their iPads, laptops, or tablets for other things when they should be using it to take notes.  Other than that, however, I think Evernote has really helped reshape the way we take notes. 

Supporting Instruction with Technology

The reason I chose this lesson plan is because it not only includes a typical lecture based teaching component but also some opportunities for the students to reflect on what they learned, make their own judgments, and ultimately, consider how their lives have been made different as a result.  I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the TED talk (a technology that I did a past assignment on) as well as the pre-lesson Sputnik recording.
I feel as though this lesson plan, while relatively thorough, did not do a good job at making the material relevant to the students.  Lessons are always more powerful when the student can see how he/she has been affected by the events that transpired.  Having students imagine what it was like to have separate schools, water fountains, seating on the bus, etc., helps put the civil rights movement into perspective.  I think the widespread changes to the educational system, with respect to the content the United States emphasized during the space race era, can be framed in a way that makes students understand how their own educational experiences have been shaped, not just those of students in the 1950's and 1960's.  This is why I added the question on shifts in schooling and the alternative choices activity.  It think the addition of these two components helped to bolster the lesson plan in the one area it was lacking- cultural relevance.
I did not have such a great time with the mind-map.  Personally, I don't quite see the advantage of it over google sheets which I found much easier to use.  I absolutely anticipate using google sheets in the future as a teacher.  The ability to organize information into steps and categories makes it easier to see map out the direction your lesson should be headed at each individual stage.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U8a-MfvZoinFI2nJt51eFrwAd6qNpj5eK_JT7JmjKSM/edit?usp=sharing

Compare and Contrast Ideas: My Congress

My Congress is an iPad app that allows students to access up to date information on both locally and nationally elected government officials.

My Congress provides the opportunity for students to access news, videos, Open Congress profiles, and even the twitter feeds of their elected officials.  Such information will provide meaningful insight into the hot button issues affecting this country today such as global warming, the distribution of wealth, and the state of education reform.  Perhaps the coolest feature of the My Congress app is that it enables students to write to their chosen official.  This would provide a great opportunity for students to express their opinions and beliefs on certain major issues and how they think each situation can be improved.  This app also provides students with the opportunity to compare political tendencies and ideologies that have characterized congress throughout history with those that characterize it today.  What kind of legislation, if any, has been passed in the past to reform education in America and how is current legislation or proposed legislation the same or different?  There are, of course, some limitations when it comes to using this app in the classroom.  When it comes to political figures, information is often times skewed in whatever direction advances that figure's political beliefs or stances.  As a result, it can sometimes be difficult to discern truths from untruths.  

The My Congress app is free on the iPad!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mycongress/id364897048?mt=8

History of Technology in Social Studies

I did my Powtoon on the introduction of educational television into American classrooms. Educational television is so critical for social studies, specifically, because it enables to travel through time and space to witness some of the most significant events in world history.

https://www.powtoon.com/online-presentation/emPef06tZ6X/sase518/

Share Ideas and Opinions: TED Talks

TED Talks provide some of the world's leading experts in their respective fields the opportunity to share their research, ideas, and opinions.  Speakers range from doctors investigating the causes of depression in animals to education theorists discussing the directions of educational reform.  These talks not only to provide us with new and exciting information, but also serve to challenge our preconceptions of the way things are.

Anyone with a computer or smart phone has access to TED Talks.  Viewing is free and can be done on either YouTube or at https://www.ted.com/talks.

TED Talks are a great example of sharing ideas and opinions because they allow unique insight into the minds and works of some of the world brightest and most innovative.  As a teacher I would use these videos to demonstrate several things, one of which is the fact that different subjects can be highly interrelated.  In fact, there is a TED Talk by a mathematician who, along with the famous Harvard cognitive psychologist, Steven Pinker, is attempting to explain historical trends through the use of mathematics.  I think a lot of times students have difficulty seeing the utility of one subject or another.  This video demonstrates that even if they're not interested in math as a stand alone subject, they can use it to better understand a subject they love, history.  These talks inspire great things among the people who watch them.  They keep us informed, challenge our beliefs, and force us to grow intellectually.

The only limitation of TED Talks is that they're likely only appropriate for secondary students (mainly high school).  Much of the information presented would likely go over the head of anyone younger.