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Article
Digital Toolkits for Teachers
Social Studies Research and Practice
  • Mark J. Hofer, College of William and Mary
  • Kathleen Owings Swan, University of Kentucky
  • Emma Thacker, University of Kentucky
Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Education
Publication Date
1-1-2010
Abstract

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.

Keywords
  • digital moviemaking,
  • history,
  • primary sources,
  • research,
  • social studies,
  • technology integration
Disciplines
Citation Information
Mark J. Hofer, Kathleen Owings Swan and Emma Thacker. "Digital Toolkits for Teachers" Social Studies Research and Practice Vol. 5 Iss. 1 (2010) p. 176 - 183
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mark-hofer/82/