Lu Gao

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Return to ETAP 623 Spring 2016 |Lu's min-course

About Me

My name is Lu Gao. I come from China.My hometown is Dalian which situates at the tip of China's Liaodong Peninsular. I had BA in International trade and MA in Public Administration in China.Now I entered into a graduate program of Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology at SUNY. I am so excited because it is my first spring semester. Life is full of so much drama, you never know what will happen next. However, I believe all my education backgrounds will be served as a good foundation of my future career.

I like nature landscapes, so one of my hobbies is traveling. I went to a miracle nature wonder called Niagara Fall in June last year. One of my most exciting experiences last year were learning to ski in LapLand Lake and watching a car race.In my spare time, I like to be around the ocean. When I see the wave up and down, it makes me calm down and take off my pressure.My landlord has a cute cat. I fed her sometimes. Her name is loulou.

My Topic and Purpose

Integrating Web2.0 Tools into Social Studies Context

The content area of social studies has undergone a tremendous change due to the effective integration of technology.Prior research has manifested that " technology can support and enable student-centered projects,constructivist teaching and learning approached, and collaborative efforts."(Holcomb,Beal,&Robertson,2009;Jonassen,1994).As digital technology implemented in today's social studies instruction,teachers use Web2.0 tools to engage their students in learning while developing their higher-order thinking skills or historical analysis skills.The content of this mini course is to help teachers how to incorporate various Web2.0 applications into social studies curriculum. Additionally,most social studies teachers struggle in finding appropriate technological tools to meet their instructional needs.

Topics that will be covered:

• What are Web 2.0 tools?

• What is the difference between Web 1.0 tools and Web2.0 tools?

• Why integrate Web 2.0 in the social studies classroom?

• What is the impact of Web 2.0 Tools in social studies?

• What are some effective and innovative ways for teachers to incorporate web 2.0 tools such as Blogs and Wikis into their social studies classroom while aligned with the NCSS guidelines( National Council for social studies) and Bloom's Revised Taxonomy.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to :

• Define key concepts about Web 2.0 tools.

• Differentiate Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 .

• Identify the benefits of using Web 2.0 tools in the social studies.

• Classify Web 2.0 applications aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy and NCSS Guidelines for technology integration

• Examine authentic examples of integrating Wikis or Blogs into social studies instruction.

Needs Assessment

Instructional Problem

With the emergence and advancements of technology,the content area of social studies has undergone a significant revolution in recent years.Pedagogical changes have result from the seamless integration of Web 2.0 technologies into social studies education.Nowadays, students brought up during the digital technological era, they were more familiar with computers ,internet and other social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.Students are accustomed to share ideas and events or create videos through technology.However, traditional standard tests such as multiple choice questions in social studies that decrease the level of students' curiosity and innovation. Since pedagogical instruction focuses on lower-lever thinking skills ,students may feel bored with memorizing complicated historical events."Social studies can now be taught using hands-on, interactive ,problem-based learning."(Holcomb & Candy,28).Teachers employ constructivist teaching and learning approaches in order to develop students' higher order thinking skills in social studies. However, "teachers are struggling to find effective ways to integrate technology into their classroom lessons while providing students with sound academic content.(Wilson, 65).

What is to be learned

• The participants will learn the definition of Web 2.0 as well as the benefits of integrating Web2.0 tools in Social studies Instruction.

• Simultaneously, the participants will learn techniques involved in seeking appropriate web 2.0 tools to meet instructional needs.

• Finally, participants will create their own class Wikis or Blogs based on the techniques that they have learned.

The Learners

The learners are included social studies teachers in New York State. They continue to implement the New York State Common Core Social Studies Standard in their instructions.Some learners have previous experiences in integrating web2.0 tools in social studies classroom while others lack the confidence to incorporate technology into their classrooms.

Instructional Context

All instruction will take online, so in order to successfully complete this course, participants will need to have a computer with a internet access. Instruction will vary slightly depending on each unit,however, the majority of resources in this course will come from readings,lectures and videos.Participants will be assessed through a series of activities dealing with effectively integrating Web 2.0 tools into social studies classroom.

Exploring the Problem and Solution

With easy access to Web 2.0 tools in the classrooms, teachers may know about applications such as blogs , wiki, and other digital media-sharing, but may lack the confidence or experiences to integrate them into social studies instruction.As most teachers confront this challenge, participates will continuously explore what Web 2.0 tools are and see how it can be used to help students develop high order thinking skills in social studies context.Through various mini lectures and discussions, participants will be able to recognize a variety of techniques in implementing Web 2.0 tools into curriculum.

Goals

The main goal of this min-course is for participants to gain a better understanding of what Web 2.0 tools are and how to integrate them effectively and appropriately in social studies classroom. At the end of this course,participants should gain more confidence and be able to create their own class Wikis or Blogs .Participants will also learn strategies that can select the appropriate technological tools to meet instructional needs alongside the NCSS standards and Bloom's revised taxonomy.

Analysis of the Learner and Context

Participates in this course will be social studies teachers. Teachers at schools taught in classrooms equipped with a variety of technologies such as desktop computer,overhead projector ,and a interactive white board.They have access to internet.This course will prepare participants to utilize various Web 2.0 tools in the social study context to enhance teaching and learning. It will also benefit other subject teachers in their effort to incorporate web2.0 tools into instruction.

Prerequisites:

• The participants will have general knowledge of Web 1.0 tools and Web 2.0 tools.
• The participants will have a computer with internet access.
• The participants will be familiar with the NCSS guidelines for technology and Bloom's Revised taxonomy.
• The participants will be motivated to identify various Web 2.0 tools and seek ways to engage their students into real social studies classroom.

Performance-Based Object

• Learners will demonstrate a good understanding of Web 2.0 tools , by comparing the definition of Web 1.0 tools.
• Learners will identify the effective Web 2.0 tools in social studies context, by analyzing NCSS guidelines for technology and Bloom's Revised Taxonomy.
• Learners will watch mini lectures and analyze real examples of using Blogs and Wiki in World history class.

Task analysis

Unit 1: What are Web 2.0 tools?

1.1 Participants will define Web 2.0 tools and the key characteristics of Web 2.0.

1.2 Participants will differentiate Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 by watching a clever videos called "Web1.0 and Web 2.0."

Unit 2 : Why integrate Web 2.0 into the social studies classroom?

2.1 Participants will identify the benefits of using Web 2.0 tools in the social studies classroom.

2.2 Participants will classify Web 2.0 tools aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy and NCSS Guidelines for Technology Integration

Unit 3 : Implementing Wikis/Blogs in Social Studies classroom

3.3 Participates will examine authentic examples of integrating Wikis in Social studies instruction.

3.4 Participants will discuss examples of integrating blogs in Social studies instruction

Curriculum Map

References all Resources

• Bull, G., Hammond, T., & Ferster, B. (2008). Developing web 2.0 tools for support of historical inquiry in social studies. Computer in the Schools, 25(3-4), 275-287.

• Frye, E. M., Trather, W., & Koppenhaver, D. A. (2010). Internet workshop and blog publishing: Meeting student(and teacher)learning needs to achieve best practices in the twenty-first century social studies classroom. The Social Studies, 101, 46-45.

• Holcomb, L. B., & Beal, C. M. (2010). Capitalizing on web 2.0 tools in the social studies context. TechTrends, 54(4),28-32.

• Wilson, E. K., Wright, V. H., Inman, C. T., & Matherson, L. H. (2011). Retooling the social studies classroom for the current generation. The Social Studies, 102, 65-72. doi: 10.1080/00377996.2010.484445

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