Breaking Stereotypes: Constructing Geographic Literacy and Cultural Awareness through Technology

Abstract

Youths in the United States are less geographically and culturally literate than are youths in many other industrialized countries. In an time in which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, it is pertinent that American youths study geography, evaluate stereotypes, and understand how individuals are perceived by others. The authors confront these issues and offer solutions. They explore roots of this illiteracy and provide classroom examples of student geographic and cultural misconceptions before demonstrating how, through the combination of technology and instruction from a global perspective, teachers can promote geographic literacy and cultural awareness. The authors conclude by providing digital resources that enable social studies instructors to teach geography more effectively.