This course offers methods for making social studies “alive” to students through the use of engaging and effective student-centered activities and projects, with technology as a major component. Combining technology and classroom resources, participants will receive step-by-step directions for creating and using the proposed activities and creating templates to be used in future activities, as well as being provided with supplementary technology resources that can be used in later lessons. Activities can be applied to social studies topics at almost any grade level and should fit seamlessly into the curriculum, as their value in encouraging and motivating learning is evidenced.
Number of Units: 2.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours
Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for those that teach or will teach social studies, especially in the elementary and middle school setting.
Course Materials: No textbook required. Access to the Internet and several common computer programs (Windows' Word & Excel; Mac's Pages & Numbers) for completion of projects is required. Optional supplementary activities would make use of video equipment, however, not required.
Technical Requirements
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Courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that allows you to structure your education to suit your schedule while keeping you on pace toward achieving your educational goals.
Online fixed-date courses are delivered virtually but follow a predetermined schedule, requiring students to complete assignments, participate in discussions, and take assessments by specific deadlines—much like a traditional classroom. The key difference is that while traditional courses are conducted in person at set times and locations, online fixed-date courses allow students to engage remotely, offering more flexibility in where they learn while preserving structure and accountability through fixed timelines. (Note: Any scheduled Zoom sessions will be outlined on the class schedule.) These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Instructor feedback is shared along with the graded assignments.
How is the learning structured? Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.
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Great class!
The assignments will be applied to my teaching right away! They end products of each module will be great examples/lessons in my own classroom!
The course gave several suggestions and ideas for hands-on ideas to use in the classroom.
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