Advantages
of Integrating Technology
One huge advantage of integrating
technology into the subject area of social studies is that it presents a
stimulated problem-solving environment. (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p.
338). This environment then makes complex
and confusing concepts more clear and meaningful. (Roblyer and Doering, 2013,
p. 338). The reason why this is the case
is because stimulations allow the students to take an “active part in historical
situations that would not otherwise be possible due to historical or physical
distance (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p. 338).
Another big advantage that integrated technology has in field of social
studies is that it has vastly improved the area of information visualization. Due to the exponential growth in the capabilities
of both hardware and software, visualization techniques for learning have
greatly improved (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p. 338).
Disadvantages
of Integrating Technology
A major disadvantage to
integrating technology is first and foremost the expense of it. The cost of integrating a school into the
technological age can be extremely expense.
However, most of the expense is maintenance. Maintenance is a must when dealing with
technology integration and one that can bleed the pocket books dry in any
school system. The second disadvantage
that technology integration can have is the potential for greater distractions. Due to the emergence of Ipads and other
gadgets students can now individually have their own private source of
technology. This can prove beneficial
for most but for a select few it can provide enormous temptation and
distractions.
Special
Activities, Programs, Etc.
Virtual
Field Trips-
Virtual Field trips is a great example of a special activity that without
technology could not exist. A virtual
field trip is a “visit” that students can make via the Internet in order to see
places that otherwise they would never get to see (Roblyer and Doering, 2013,
p. 339). This is vitally important in the
area of social studies because it allows one to see and feel history without
any limitations.
Adventure
Learning-
Adventure Learning is another special activity or problem that is vital to the
field of social studies. This activity
or program consists of students being assigned an explorer and then getting to
travel with them virtually through their journey (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p.
340). Studies have shown a vast
improvement in students’ knowledge because of this program. The reason students give is that it makes
them feel in the action and part of the story (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p.
340). Finding interesting ways to
present the history curriculum to students can sometimes be difficult and that
is why this program can be such a huge help.
Electronic
Research- Electronic
research is a special program that allows students to find up-to-date research
at an extremely rapid pace (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p. 341). This is a big advantage in the social studies
field because it allows for a vast amount of material to be displayed for
students who want to learn.
References: Roblyer,
M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating educational technology into
teaching (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
