Purpose
Educational technologies are seldom utilized in elementary social studies classrooms
(Swan & Hofer, 2008). If used, social studies educational technology integration often has been
limited to the playing of software games like The Oregon Trail or Where in the World is Carmen
Sandiego (Swan & Hofer, 2008; Taylor & Duran, 2006). These edutainment games are
marketed as fun ways to learn social studies (Buckingham, 2007). Such games neglect the
Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) for educationally profitable
technology integration in elementary school content areas.
Preparing future elementary teachers to connect social studies content and skills with
technology necessitates the integration of technology into teacher preparation methods courses.
Such integration should allow pre-service teachers to recognize how pedagogical practice and
social studies content can be enhanced with instructional technology. This study examines an
initial step in the process, describing and analyzing the integration of instructional technology
into an elementary social studies methods course.