21st Century Tools for the Social Studies Classroom

21st Century Tools

• Wikis – Collaborative online sites that are flexible and easy to navigate. – Sample: Elections Wiki Project – students form

political parties, write platforms, choose a presidential candidate and conduct an election campaign.

– Sample: AP Psychology Review Wiki – Students work in groups to complete and present

the project material.

Elections Wikihttp://hchscampaignsites-

2009.wikispaces.com

AP Psychology Review Wiki

http://psyched-at-hillcrest.wikispaces

.com

Tapped In was employed in the AP and Advanced

Government/Economics classes and the AP Psychology class. It

provided unexpected benefits to both the teacher and the students.

http://www.tappedin.org

Tapped In includes a discussion board that allowed us to discuss items related to our

curriculum. Students responded

enthusiastically to the addition of our Tapped

In pages.

The online chat section allowed students to work

collaboratively and to receive help from the instructor during

“after-class” hours

The Advanced Placement Psychology Tapped In Room

http://www.tappedin.org

Tapped In allowed students to collaborate on group

projects and upload their work for further

collaboration with the class. Also present in the files section were student

constructed reviews for the Advanced Placement test.

Benefits of Tapped InBenefits of Tapped In

• Created an online presence for the class.Created an online presence for the class.• Tapped In contains a discussion board that Tapped In contains a discussion board that

encouraged extended discussion of encouraged extended discussion of classroom curriculum. classroom curriculum.

• The real-time chat feature allowed students The real-time chat feature allowed students to work together collaboratively and to get to work together collaboratively and to get help from the instructor when she was “in help from the instructor when she was “in the room” also. the room” also.

• Students are better prepared for online work Students are better prepared for online work required in college courses they will take in required in college courses they will take in the future.the future.

• Tapped In allowed students to experiment in Tapped In allowed students to experiment in a safe environment controlled by the a safe environment controlled by the instructor.instructor.

Government classes elections campaign sites wiki – each political party constructed a campaign

site

The Advanced Placement Psychology Tapped In Room

http://www.tappedin.org

Tapped In allowed students to collaborate on group

projects and upload their work for further

collaboration with the class. Also present in the files section were student

constructed reviews for the Advanced Placement test.

Benefits of Tapped InBenefits of Tapped In

• Created an online presence for the class.Created an online presence for the class.• Tapped In contains a discussion board that Tapped In contains a discussion board that

encouraged extended discussion of encouraged extended discussion of classroom curriculum. classroom curriculum.

• The real-time chat feature allowed students The real-time chat feature allowed students to work together collaboratively and to get to work together collaboratively and to get help from the instructor when she was “in help from the instructor when she was “in the room” also. the room” also.

• Students are better prepared for online work Students are better prepared for online work required in college courses they will take in required in college courses they will take in the future.the future.

• Tapped In allowed students to experiment in Tapped In allowed students to experiment in a safe environment controlled by the a safe environment controlled by the instructor.instructor.

Government classes elections campaign sites wiki – each political party constructed a campaign

site

Sample Student ProductsElection Project