Assessment is usually considered as an afterthought in the instructional design process. Given the many challenges of assessment design--and the lack of ready solutions--teachers may fall back on familiar forms of assessments and hope for the best. As a result, the problem is not a lack of will on the part of teachers. Instead, it is the lack of…

The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework continues the long tradition of inquiry-based learning in the social studies by merging disciplinary and critical inquiry approaches. Using the Inquiry Design Model (IDM), an instructional design tool, teachers guide students through a series of formative tasks to address supporting questions. By…

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is increasingly popular in K-12 schools, not just in the United States but around the world. PBL is a great way to engage students in their learning. In this article, the author presents what PBL is and is not.

In today's society, film is a part of popular culture and is relevant to students' everyday lives. Most students spend over 7 hours a day using media. With the popularity and availability of film, it is natural that teachers attempt to engage students with such a relevant medium. The method of using film and the method of using firsthand accounts…

Digital history refers to "the study of the past using a variety of electronically reproduced primary source texts, images, and artifacts as well as the constructed narratives, accounts, or presentations that result from digital historical inquiry." Access to digitized primary sources can promote active instruction in historical thinking. A…

The purpose of this article is to propose a base from which the study of Latin American culture might be initiated utilizing ideas from two new approaches. A plan is presented for organizing inquiry into Latin American culture around main ideas. (Author/KM)

Research on teacher effectiveness has provided substantial evidence that certain teaching behaviors are more likely than others to promote student achievement. Described is an instructional design model that can help teachers plan for more effective teaching. Two sample social studies lessons based on the model are presented. (RM)

The Economic Balance model can be used in secondary economics classes to show demand- and supply-sides of the overall economy as well as how the two sides influence each other. Demand-side approaches to recession and inflation and supply-side approaches to expansion of production capacity and inflation are discussed. (AM)

Presented is an economic classroom model in which elementary children learn important social studies concepts by observing or helping with classroom routines. Twenty percent of the school day necessarily spent on routines can be saved using this model. (RM)

An extensive, three-year inservice training model is described as implemented MACOS in a elementary social studies program. (KM)

A detailed explanation of a strategy for teaching any critical thinking skill is presented. The skill of distinguishing between statements of fact and opinion is used to illustrate the steps necessary to plan for teaching critical thinking. (RM)

A study comparing the effectiveness of various parts of Merrill and Tennyson's model for teaching concepts showed that a presentation of examples and nonexamples in an expository presentation or in an inquisitory practice presentation enhances the acquisition of social studies concepts. The addition of a definition is not essential. (RM)

Examines three problem-solving models that have applications for the elementary school classroom. All are easily understandable, practical, pedagogical, and will improve children's thinking. Models are the Universal Traveler, Philosophy for Children, and the Decide Model. (Author/AV)

A model for the joint planning and integration of science and social studies is presented. Curriculum comparisons, topic selection, topic definition and integration, and operational strategies form the basis of the model. Suggestions for implementing the model and evaluation processes are also included. (JR)

The article lists and discusses examples of social studies performance objectives developed by the state of Michigan for both elementary and secondary schools. (RM)