Sarah Matthews From school plays depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence to models of the Boston Tea Party, teachers have incorporated several visual methods to not only teach history but bring history to life. The Education Service Center Region 12 hosted a Social Studies Conference for secondary and elementary grade educators on August 5 to bring the hands-on aspects of social studies into the 21st century.
Research shows active, hands-on learning has positive results in the classroom.
Technology has become an increasingly popular tool for immersing students in the curriculum, by allowing teachers to bring history to life with the touch of a button. Students not only learn about past social issues, but also acquire those social skills that will enable them to create their own history. Dr. Martha Muncrief presented ways technology can enhance social studies instruction. Educators worked on computers and discovered methods of instruction even with limited Internet access or computers available. By working together, participants discovered how the Internet can enhance their current curriculum by allowing students to log on to pictures, sound bites, movies, and information on any event in history.