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If integrating technology means nothing more than enhancing the traditional delivery system of social studies content, where laptops replace notebooks, where PowerPoint slides replace handwritten overheads, where e-textbooks replace hard copy textbooks, then we will be no closer to the NCSS vision of transformative, powerful social studies instruction. (Doolittle & Hicks, 2003, p.75)

This article provides a starting place for teachers wanting to dabble with the latest trend in technology—podcasting. The authors present a general overview of a tool that will most likely be part of the teaching vernacular, if not now, in the very near future. We offer a short tutorial on podcasting as well as perspectives on how teachers might incorporate podcasts into their curricula. We also summarize the value and limitations of podcasts, and perhaps most importantly, we include a resource guide to some of the more intriguing and useful podcasts currently available.

The Historical Scene Investigation (HSI) project builds upon the work of a number of scholars to facilitate the application and acquisition of historical thinking skills in the K-12 classroom. Through a structured yet flexible approach, HSI exercises attempt to provide scaffolding for the analysis of a variety of historical documents to simultaneously develop an understanding of the content focus of the investigation and the historiography skills embedded in their work. HSI exercises are designed to be “interpreted” and edited by classroom teachers in either a low- or high-tech approach. This article explores the background and structure of the model and discussion of the classroom implementation of two examples.

Efforts to prepare new teachers to integrate technology into their teaching have a lengthy history. Increasingly, scholars are beginning to understand the importance of linking technology with specific content areas and pedagogy (Zhao, 2003). Mishra and Koehler (2006) refer to this intersection of technology, pedagogy, and content as Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK). Structuring field experiences that systematically address curriculum-based technology integration in the context of specific content areas is one way that teacher preparation programs can operationalize this development of TPCK in pre-service teachers (Bolick, 2002; Dawson & Nonis, 2000). Analysis of the data in the Bolick study revealed three benefits for the pre-service teachers working within a content-specific technology field placement: (a) increased knowledge and skill related to digital history pedagogy, (b) increased content-area knowledge, and (c) increased confidence in developing and teaching technology-integrated lessons (2002). Using Bolick’s findings as initial assertions, this study investigated the use of collaborative field placements, digital history, and an apprenticeship model of training to teach pre-service teachers about technology and elementary social studies instruction. This paper discusses the results of the Technology Leadership Cadre (TLC) collaboration and provides recommendations for future studies in this area of research.

Microsoft PowerPoint is a powerful, yet often underutilized, orchestration tool for learning. While its most common use may be no more powerful or effective than an overhead projector, the multimedia capabilities of the software open up powerful means to connect with diverse learners in the classroom. In this piece, we explore how PowerPoint can be used in ways that connect with Universal Design for Learning principles and make teacher and student presentations more engaging and effective. We offer several concrete examples of “thinking outside the slide” to leverage the unique potential of PowerPoint in the classroom.

In this article, we feature five students’ initial efforts at developing technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK). Five new teachers—four from social studies and one from English/humanities—developed lesson plans that attempt to integrate their own experiences, their evolving teaching skills, and technology expertise (at varying levels) within standards-based content/curriculum requirements. In part, our goal as teacher educators is to begin to consider what kinds of issues our new teachers face as they negotiate their understandings of TPCK. Moreover, we ourselves are negotiating an understanding of how to best debrief them as they reflect on practice and the meaning of technological pedagogical content knowledge in the school context.

Despite the recent interest and production of quality podcasts freely available online, there are relatively few podcasts available for K-12 teachers of economics. We see this as a missed opportunity given the real-time and real-world nature of economics. We have created the Econocast (http://econocast.org) website to help spark teachers’ imaginations to leverage podcasting in the economics classroom and to help make the publication process easier. In this article, we offer a definition of podcasting, discuss how podcasting might support the economics curriculum, and present a case study of a teacher's development of an “iReport” economics podcast for her ninth grade classroom. We invite readers to help realize the potential of podcasting to engage students in meaningful learning of economics concepts.

This article begins with a discussion of the need to integrate technology into K-12 social studies classrooms and continues by introducing and providing social studies-based examples of the Moersch Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi) framework. The authors argue that LoTi levels do not coincide with teachers’ needed technology skill levels. As a result, the article offers suggestions for encouraging adjustment toward greater technology-infused social studies instructional methods based on teacher skill level. Using text and tabular formats, the authors provide numerous technology integration methods for social studies teachers who are “Starting Out Easy,” “Taking the Next Step,” or “Beginning to Excel” with technology.

Challenging students to create digital documentary films in history courses engages students in both mastery of content knowledge and higher order thinking experiences. Teachers considering this type of work must contend with the focus on standards-based testing, a wide breadth of content to be covered, the challenge of finding relevant primary source materials, and restrictions related to copyright and Fair Use. This paper explores a resource site for teachers, Digital Docs in a Box, that attempts to mediate some of these concerns and support their students in the creation of digital documentaries. First, we explore the rationale for student creation of digital media, the challenges inherent in these endeavors, and the creation of the resource site. We then overview the structure and use of the site, with an illustration of how a practicing teacher would use one of the documentary kits in the classroom.

THE death of Sir John Ballinger was the cardinal library event of January. Elsewhere one of our contributors has gathered his memories of this distinguished past president of the Library Association. Here we pay tribute to a great librarian whose devotion to all that is best in the service was life‐long and who received honours which are not always given to librarians. Achieving a relatively important library position in early life, he not only gave his city an admirable service; he found time to work for all the general interests of the profession. The respect and gratitude, and indeed the affection, of all of us surrounded his later years and go with him to his grave. Our sympathy is respectfully expressed to Lady Ballinger and her family.