Technological Tools and Websites

Through reading and learning about teaching social studies and geography in the classroom, I have stumbled upon numerous websites and tools that engage students in the classroom and contribute to their learning.

Website:

Maps of the states and capitals- this website allows students to view different maps, to make maps, and to take quizzes to self-assess their own learning. This website is more of a practice, review, and self-monitoring website.


Tools:

QR Code Treasure Hunt: Students can scan a qr code that contains a hidden clue or hint. QR codes can be used for any grade level and provides a way for students to interact and participate. QR codes can also contain articles, videos, or even websites. It is a quick and fun way for students to access information that the teachers want accessed.

Primary Sources with DocsTeach: DocsTeach allows teachers and/or students to find and create interactive learning activities with primary source documents that promote historical thinking skills. DocsTeach allows the past to be taught and understood in the present.  

Primary Sources allows students to make a connection with something that has happened in the past. It is the original version of an object, and not a copy. Primary sources are an essential part of history and student learning. This video was great because it provided different ways and ideas of how other teachers use primary documents in the classroom. 

10 Ways to Engage Students in Exploring Geography with Technology

Geography is essential for student learning because it assists students in learning and expanding their vocabulary. Geography is divided into five different themes: 1) Location, position on the Earth's surface, 2) Place, natural and cultural characteristics, 3) Relationships within places, humans, and environments, 4) Movement, humans interacting on the Earth, and 5) Regions, how they form and change.

There are numerous innovative ways to teach geography in the classroom. One way is through current events. Students can look through a local, national, or international newspaper to look at current geographic events. Students can also browse the Newsela website. This website has current articles that allows students of all learning levels to participate. If students are on a lower reading level or have reading comprehension difficulties, they can switch the text level to a lower level. 

Teachers can also teach geography by displaying a picture. Students can look at the picture and talk about what they see in the picture and what the picture is trying to say; one picture can display a thousand words. 

After viewing this slideshow, I learned additional ways to engage students in exploring geography with technology in the classroom. I chose ten ways that I felt would most engage students and that I would use and implement in my future elementary classroom:

1) Picture Reveal: Students have to answer questions. Every time a question is answered correctly, a part of the picture is revealed. Each revelation will entice the students to try and answer the questions correctly because they will want to know the image hiding behind the picture. 

2) Map from Memory: Students work in groups and have 20 seconds and view and study a map or diagram. They then return to their group and draw what they remember. This is a great way for students to retain an image in their mind because they are forcing themselves to concentrate and practice memorization through seeing and drawing. 

3) 5 W's: Students look at an image and and ask a series of questions that contains: who, what, where, when, and why. The lesson is focused on the students answering those questions. This exercise allows students to analyze and make predictions about an image based on clues.

4) Noughts and Crosses: The teacher divides the class into two groups and asks nine questions. Using a tic-tac-toe board, whenever a group answers the question correctly, they place an x or an o on the board. This a fun and educational way for students to learn and review. Students get really competitive among one another too.

5) Stop Disasters: This simulation games allows students to prepare for natural disasters while on a budget. It really teaches students about the devastation and costs that natural disasters impose to the world, as well as the reliability certain areas of the world have on certain products or objects to survive.

6) Survey Monkey: This surveying device allows the teacher to obtain immediate feedback. Students can answer questions and the teacher can see which responses are the most popular.

7) Model: Physical features can be molded and modeled with plasticine. This model allows students to visualize a concept or object that is being taught and is also tangible. 

8) Bingo: This activity can be used for review. The teacher can read vocabulary definitions and the students have to mark their boards if they have the correct vocabulary word. 

9) Dominoes: This activity allows students to see that one thing causes another event and is a continuation. A teacher can set up dominoes and label each domino as a certain cause that leads into a specific event.

10) GeoTube: These are geography videos that are on youtube. These provide students with another way to obtain geography information. 

Teaching Channel: Formative Assessment

I believe exit tickets are great ways to assess students. It is quick and can be used during any point throughout the day. Not only does it provide the teacher with immediate feedback, it also allows students to visually see if they are understanding the material and if they need to ask the teacher for additional help. Throughout my fieldwork experience and my substitute teaching experience, I have seen more and more teachings use and implement exit tickets in their classroom. I also strongly agree when April Pforts compared formative teaching and exit tickets to taking students on a trip. The teacher needs to pick the destination in where she wants to take her students in learning, the route to get there, and anticipated stops and detours. This is a great analogy. 

Active Learning

After watching the Annenberg Learner video about engaging students in active learning, there are various strategies I feel are beneficial to student learning in the classroom. These active learning strategies are cooperative learning, authentic instruction, questioning, engaging activities, and presentations. 


Personally, I really enjoy cooperative learning. Cooperative learning allows all students to participate and engage in discussion. Cooperative learning also contributes to students' social skills. 

Authentic instruction is another active learning strategy. This strategy contains: Higher-order thinking (critical thinking), depth of knowledge (comprehensive learning), connections to the world beyond the classroom (applies concepts), substantive conversation (meaningful discussion), and social support for student achievement (encouragement/inclusion). Authentic instruction allows students to connect their learning to what they know and see/do in the real world. It allows students to receive encouragement to continue engagement and success in learning, to think critically and discuss the topic, and to learn comprehensively. 

Questioning is another great active learning strategy. Questioning is quick and simplistic. It allows the teacher to informally assess what the students already know and what they need help on. It also keeps students engaged. 

Engaging activities are extremely beneficial to students. When engaging activities are hands-on, it allows students to take abstract concepts and make them more concrete. This will allow students to comprehend and apply the concept correctly. 

Presentations allow for students to share with the class what they have learned, as well as for the teacher to assess student learning. It is a great way for students to practice social skills, as well as display all their hard work.