Today's students grow up in a technological milieu of hand-held computers with high storage capacities, internet access, and the ability to shoot high definition photographs and video. As such, they are empowered to construct representations of the past virtually "on the run." In this article, the authors investigated the historical "and"…

A computer program has been developed in which students explore problems, invent solutions, and search for supporting data. The nine units of "Historian" are each built around a major historical problem or question related to United States history. The structure of the program and its use by students are described. (JN)

Examines "Decisions, Decisions-Revolutionary Wars: Choosing Sides," an Apple II software package that emphasizes student decision-making about the nature of revolutions. Targeted at grades 5-12, the product covers a broad range of issues. Concludes that "Decisions, Decisions" models an effective decision-making process and has…

Presents a bibliography of 28 items related to the use of computers in history instruction. Focuses on materials dealing with secondary and college-level instruction. Includes 11 German-language items. (CFR)

Three studies examined high school and college students' proficiency with sourcing, contextualization, and corroboration skills when working with history documents. Findings indicated that students using "Sourcer's Apprentice"--a computer-based tutoring system to teach sourcing and corroboration--instead of regular classroom activities or a…

Describes several computer courseware packages designed to teach about the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution. Lists the title, publisher, required hardware, suggested grade level, type of program, price, and description of nine such programs. (TW)

Examines current use of computers by historians and teachers of history. Attempts to predict extent of their use in next decade. Focuses on the use of four types of computer programs: word processors; spreadsheets and statistical packages; database management programs; and simulations. States that the computer is a tool historians can use to make…

Describes effects of interactive video in the social studies classroom. Delineates basic system components and how they may be used to access multimedia kits or to create teacher-designed systems. Illustrates the method by using kits in a tenth grade world history class and an eighth grade unit on the 1988 presidential campaign. (NL)

Provides reviews of two CD-ROM products currently available for social studies education. Describes the content, technical requirements, and instructional strategies of "Who Built America?" and "The Revolutionary War." Also contains a review of a videotape about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. (CFR)

Makes recommendations for student research projects on local history and family history. Suggests teachers and librarians working together can overcome problems concerning accessibility to, and careful use of, genealogical materials. Suggests research projects and gives examples of cooperation between teachers and librarians who solved research…

Maintains that, although exciting computer programs are available for U.S. history, not all of them support the curriculum of the California History-Social Science Framework. Focuses on computer software programs that target problem solving, decision making, and tool-based programs that support the California curriculum. (CFR)

Describes three hypermedia databases designed to support secondary education classes in Scottish history. The databases contain mostly 19th-century census information with links to subjects such as fashion, education, and entertainment. Interactive interfaces allow students to create original research applications. (MJP)

Describes how a 2-volume history textbook was translated into a 453 "page" CD-ROM product. Discusses how primary sources and graphics were combined with text to create an electronic textbook. Concludes that a major motivation for experimenting with this new technology was aimed at democratizing historical understanding. (CFR)