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5. Using Computer Technology in History lesson

Introduction

 

"We know now - based on decades of use in schools, on findings of hundreds of research studies, and on the everyday experiences of educators, students, and their families - that, properly used, technology can enhance the achievement of all students, increase families’ involvement in their children’s schooling, improve teachers’ skills and knowledge, and improve school administration and management." (Department of Education Forum, 1995).


This was stated by the American Department of Education Forum as far back as in 1995. Since then, the world of technology has evolved dramatically. A vast number of software tools are now available for use by educational institutions. Navigating this jungle of tools is a challenge. The Department of Education also point out that proper use is important, and several articles mention this as well (Walter & Lydiatt; Sherson, 1999).

In this part we will have a look at some tools that we think would be useful for a primary school history teacher. We will look at how to use them and consider their value for history learning, based on our findings in the earlier parts of the chapter. We have divided the tools into the following groups:

  • Data collection
  • Creating
  • Data sharing
  • Problem solving
  • Presentation
  • Reflection

One concern with some of our tools is that they are used by all kinds of users. This also means people that can have bad influence on young children, like the pupils in our study. The pupils might find pictures and videos that is not suitable for them. However, we believe if they are given the right guidelines before they go “online,” the pupils will avoid most of the dangers on the web. The teacher should also have this in mind, so that they can be aware if anything ought to happen during the project.

Discuss & brainstorm