Chapter 15: Social and Cultural Implications of Technology Integration in Social Studies Education

The chapters in this book highlight many of the exemplary uses of technology integration in the social studies. Yet, the reality of integration of technology in the classroom lags behind many of these exemplars (Dede, 2008). To examine technology integration, we must consider what technology schools have access to and how technology is used to promote student learning in the twenty-first century (Cusi, 2007; Margolis, 2008). This chapter will explore technology integration, technology literacy, and the social context of technology integration through the lens of social studies education.

Learning in the twenty-first century involves a new series of skills that are integral to successful technology integration. Our schools have fallen short of integrating these skills into the curriculum. As the National Research Council states (NRC),