How New Technology Resources Are Changing Social Studies

In this article, the author points out that there are important national efforts to upgrade and transform the use of technology in schools. Last year, the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy released its report: "Informing Communities; Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age." In late 2010, the U.S. Department of Education was going through a process of improving U.S. education by releasing what could be viewed as a provocative report: "The National Education Technology Plan 2010." The two reports appear to be gaining support, even among some recently elected Tea Party-affiliated Republicans in Congress. One potential outcome for schools based on this plan would be cost savings such as those related to textbook and other resource costs. Here, the author presents links to these reports and some analysis. Following that he describes some presentations and resources he saw at the 2010 NCSS annual meeting in Denver. He also presents a list of recommended websites that highlights the innovative use of Web 2.0 technology by teachers in Milwaukee and Kentucky, and a college professor in Houston who teaches students how to design podcasts that use animation, music, and narration.