My Mover and Shaker in the Social Studies field is Dr. Michael J. Berson. He is currently a Professor of Social Science Education at the University of South Florida and a Senior Fellow in The Florida Joint Center for Citizenship. According to his NCSS profile, he instructs courses in Social Science Methodology and is the coordinator of the doctoral program in social sciences education. Dr. Berson has been recognized for integrating emerging technologies into instruction. He was awarded the USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award and was chosen twice as the nominee from USF for the United States Professor of the Year Award. In 2006 he co-authored the book Social Studies on the Internet.
Dr. Berson is an advocate for integrating technology into the Social Studies classroom and has authored many articles on this subject. He believes that students must be taught digital citizenship in order to be successful online learners. In his articles he talks a lot about how we have to educate students to use technology correctly in order to make them successful students and citizens. Protecting student's privacy is of upmost importance when they are using technology, at school or at home. One story is about a ninth grade student who is watching a streaming video of an area in Africa and the student is completely surprised to find out that there are McDonald’s restaurants in Africa. Dr. Berson states that suddenly his world is not so detached from the world he is studying in ninth grade geography. This child is using technology to connect him to places he would otherwise have no access to. He is able to make connections with people all around the world with a click of a mouse or an access of a website. Technology allows classrooms to be able to travel all around the world and gives teachers the ability to teach global citizenship as well. Dr. Berson firmly believes that in order to teach children to be good citizens we must be incorporating new technologies as we teach. As the teacher, we have to be able to step aside and act as a facilitator, while the students take control of their learning.
After studying this Mover and Shaker I realized that there are some changes I could make to the way I teach Social Studies as well. I need to make sure I am teaching my students to be digitally literate and to think critically about the information they are receiving from the Internet. Our students are the perfect prey for predators on the Internet, whether they are using it at home or school and as teachers and parents we have to be able to teach them how to protect their privacy. also need to make sure I continue to embrace new technologies for the betterment of my students and myself. I encourage you to read some of his articles as they are really thought provoking and force you to analyze your way of teaching Social Studies and incorporating technology into it.
References
Berson, M. J. (1996). Effectiveness of computer technology in the social studies: A review of the literature. Journal Of Research On Computing In Education, 28(4), 486.
Berson, M.J. (2006). Children and Their Digital Dossiers: Lessons in Privacy Rights in the D. International Journal of Social Education, 21(4), 135-147
Carano, K. J. (2007). Breaking Stereotypes: Constructing Geographic Literacy an
Cultural Awareness through Technology. Social Studies, 98(2), 65.
"Professor Berson." Professor Berson. USF, 2009. Web. 14 July 2013.![[WWW]](../wiki/eggheadbeta/img/sycamore-www.png){kind=small}
http://www.coedu.usf.edu/main/departments/seced/Faculty/Berson.html
