Social Studies Teaching with Technological Media in Secondary

Education

Abstract:
Information and communication technology is an emerging trend in education.
In the current Scenario, Traditional education is changing towards technical
education. This paper focuses on Teaching Social Sciences by implementing
ICT in classroom. This paper is written on the basis of review of literature. It
also describes on learning environments that encourage the students as
problem-centered and teachers role to implement inquiry-based activities.
With the help of ICT Teachers plays the role of facilitator instead of
gatekeepers to knowledge as subject matter experts.
Introduction:
Social studies are the combination of history, civics, geography,
and economics. Teaching social studies with practical approach create a good
effort among the students. It is all related with society and social needs. So it
could be successful when the students understand about the society. For that
purpose information and communication technology is a useful medium to
fulfill these needs. The information not only in textual form but in audio, video
or any other media is also to be transmitted to the users. Information and
communication technology is used to collect the information .Those Collected
information are processed and depending upon the societal needs which could
be transformed. History helps to evaluate and understand about the major
stages in the society as well as human behaviors and civilization. Culture,
customs and habits are parts of our history. History develops the students as
responsible citizens because Indian freedom struggle, freedom fighters their
values and patriotic ideas makes them a responsible persons. Through
geography we can know the sites, places and various other identifiable areas
around the world. Civics is useful to know the rules and responsibilities of
people in the society. In day to day life Economics plays a major. We are in
globalization filed. Economy creates awareness about planning, budget, policy
making, social setup and all basic things. Using ICT in schools should motive

to adopt new ways of teaching. ICT skills must be built at school level for
acquiring Standard education and for building future carrier.
Flash card methods:
Flash card is compact visual aids. Teaching becomes more interesting and
meaningful for students with the help of visual aids. Information can be
conveyed step by step through visual aids and relevant definitions and
information about the topic can be added. With the help of flash card the
important information about the lessons can to pinpoint for further discussion
and clarification.
Flash card is used to talk about single idea. It will provide the information in
the sequential order. Flash cards items differ depending upon the group
members. The specialty of flash card is that single information would cover
the whole concept. Making skilled Presentation is another aspect of it. We
could explain in methodical and clear understandable format about the concept
.It is one of the methods to communicate with students. By observing the
facial reactions, feedbacks we can analyze the students interest in using the
flash cards.
Technology In flashcards:
Flash cards are created using software which enhance the standards of
teaching and learning process. This flash software is mainly used for testing
and evaluation purpose. It has got number of slide designs, formats, and
patterns for setting the test. The questions and answers needs to be uploaded in
the flash software before the test. Once the test is conducted the score of the
students will be automatically displayed.
For discussion of the answers we can put questions on one side and the
answers in the other side. We can use software for creating multiple slides.
Software support to provide images, some software has audio support and
printable information. We can use in the classroom with all the tools with

presentation format.
Benefits for students:
It increases the readability of the students. All the information is available in a
short and simple format. So students have time and chance to learn more
things related with the subject. It highlights the critical features on the topic so
students can easily grasp the ideas. It reduces irrelevant details and simplifies
the layout. Especially subject matters related with visual cues like pictures,
diagrams, maps, illustrations can be colorful made and visually displayed.
Creativity is used to convey the information effectively. Methods of
description include selected content (essential content, experienced based or
interest based). Alternative materials such as models, videos are used for easy
understanding of the subjects. It helps to create new materials not only for
teaching and learning and also in general life. So it increases the students
thinking power.
Geographical information system:
Map method is followed all over the world. Traditionally it was used to find
the roots and directions. After the decades the development of information and
communication technology it is used for multiple purpose. In secondary
education students are exposed to basic information about geography. If we
adopt geographical information system in the classroom, teachers can easily
teach various information on historical and contemporary issues. If we see the
Map in book we can see only the available information. Instead by using the
software detailed information is available at all the level. Maps are used to
identify the places, location, find the roots, boundaries of the countries,
population, economics, statistical purpose, political division, religious
relationship, find the natural resources. Colors are used to differentiate the
things like mountain, river, forest, water sources. GIS information provides
complete list of the above mentioned areas. All this information is collected

from survey of India 2005.It have 3 categories 1. Spatial information

2.demographic maps 3. Sectoral map
Spatial map:
Spatial layers information related with district, town, forest, soil, roads,
railways, airport, basin, catchments based on their needs we get the
information about all the states.
Demographic mapping:
It provides information on population, sex ration, male population, female
population, and gender gap in literacy, SC and ST community details and
information according to 1991, 2001 census report.
District level information:
Information is available about all the districts. If we select the wanted column
about the districts, information will available in the PDF format.
Forest: Forest details of each district, bounties of the forest, and available
resources in the forest we can gather through GIS.
Water facilities provides the information about basin and catchments canal
and water bodies drainage, drinking water facilities, irrigated land, source wise
irrigation, un-irrigated land details available.
Communication: approach road availability, availability of bus facilities, rail
facilities, and transport facilities like highway rode, district road and other
rode facilities available.
Education: education facility location, female literacy, gender gap literacy,
other education facilities, secondary school buffer, total literacy percentage
also available.
Health: health dispensaries, hospitals, medical facility locations, public health
centre, health centers, workers locations, sub centre buffer. Details are
immensely available.
Post and telecom: mobile telephony, post and telegraph facility, village
telephone connections
Soil: soil depth, soil erosion, soil productivity, soil slope, soil texture.

Other information: agriculture, banks, cinema, video halls ect.,

All the above mentioned areas can be well explored in detail for the students
with the help of ICT in class rooms.
Audio-visual aids:
Social studies have the information about the past and present, all over the
world .It reflects experience of people all over the period. If we use audio
visual aids in the classroom it could be lively and more interesting. Audio
visual aids helps the students easily memorize the information, and provides
gathering information with accuracy. There are three categories in this method.
First one is audio method recording system, sound system. Through this
method students can only listen to the audio and receive the information
through listening. Second category visual learning like pictures, maps,
photographs silent films visual slides provide by PowerPoint. Third category
audio visual method both visual as well as hearing method tools like, short
films related with subjects, television PowerPoint with sound effect, sound
filmstrips are used.
Audio visual aids are initial motivators. This method of teaching could be
more inspiring. Teacher has a dual role to teach and show the information and
correlate the information related with picture. Because of these demo students
themselves collect and create details related to the subject. So automatically
their knowledge and thinking power will increase. It simulates the visual aid
with subject matters. Especially in social studies within short time students can
learn more information about the subjects as well as the world outside. In
secondary level students have less opportunity to visit all the places and see all
the things. So visual method provides the details with life style, culture, habit,
customs, places everything related with the subject make the class amazing.
Educational movies:
Educational programmes are sponsored by Government as well as commercial
channels. For example Gyan Darshan-1 is provided by Government and some

channels are provided by private organizations.

Movie is quite way of convey the message through story with best characters
and emotions, reflect the human relations. Good movies can equate a great
teacher. The Main aim of the movies is to educate the students through the
society. It introduces the various carrier opportunities for students from young
age. Educational movies make an understanding about society. Important
sources of educational films are:
1. Childrens film society, New Delhi.
2. Central film library, National institute of audio-visual education,
Indraprastha estate, New Delhi.
3. British council in India, Rafi Marg, New Delhi.
4. Burmah shell Film Library, New Delhi.
5. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Parliament Street, New
Delhi.
6. Indian National commission for cooperation with UNESCO, Ministry
of Human Resources Development, Development of Education,
Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
7. United Nations information centre, New Delhi
Conclusion:
Through technological media, teachers as executors of prescribed tasks,
implying that detailed tasks had to be formulated in order to get teachers to use
the computers in the classroom. Technical skills and experience is necessary
for teachers. So training is needed for teachers about the new technologies for
effective participation in the classroom teaching. ICT creates the students an
Independent atmosphere. The Teacher can creatively use the ICT for
generating best results from the students. Socially students get more awareness
and that indirectly Increase their confidence level. Through Educational
movies teachers has responsible role to educate the students about the outside
world.

References:
1. Teaching of social studies, a practical approach J.C Aggarwal
2. Technology communication and audio visual aids in extension education
v.venkatasubramanian
3. Critical thinking and learning, an encyclopedia for parents and teachers
edited by joe L. Kincheloe and Danny Weil.
4. The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on
The Teacher, University of Leuven, Belgium,University of Cologne, Germany
Nexus Europe Ltd., Ireland,University of Barcelona, Spain
5. Use of ICT in teaching learning & evaluation, Prof. D N Sansanwal,Ex
Director, School of Education, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore