Chapter 11: High School Utilization of Technology as a Source of Information for The 2008 U.S. Presidential Election: A Case Study

This case study sought to gain a clearer understanding surrounding the use of technology in social studies classrooms during the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election. As a part of this effort its focus was to observe the connection and disconnection of information, as well as the truths and mistruths surrounding data found on the Internet pertaining to the election. This concern looked at access from both a student and teacher perspective. This research also attempted to look at how the school community that was part of this study obtained and used “facts” gleaned through the Internet.

In this case study the distinct topic matter was the 2008 presidential candidates and their bid for the role as the country’s highest-ranking official. As this election directly affected the future of the high school participants and their community it also looked the ways in which they made decisions that might affect their movement into the world of higher education and the global workplace.