Is Social Studies in danger of being left behind in an ever-expanding AI world? As institutions push for rapid adoption, both educators and students are becoming wary of "AI slop"—generic, uncritical content that threatens to water down deep learning. This "boots-on-the-ground" session for Grade 6-12 educators moves beyond the hype to ask the hard questions: Do we actually need these tools, and how do we keep them from becoming a permanent crutch?
We will explore practical, guardrailed methods that use AI to spark historical inquiry and civil discourse without replacing the vital work of reading, writing, and analysis. Participants will discover strategies to maintain student critical thinking and traditional learning techniques while navigating modern technology. Learn how to implement ethical "human-in-the-loop" workflows that treat AI as a starting point, not the final word. Join us to ensure that in an age of automation, the human heart of Social Studies remains protected, rigorous, and relevant.
History Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Spencer Tyce is a History Instructor at SCGSSM, where he teaches courses on the US, Colonial Latin America, and the History of Science. With nearly 20 years of experience in teaching and writing about history, he has contributed to professional journals and peer-reviewed collections... Read More →
The workshop will divide participants into three groups (instructor tools, student tools, and curriculum design) and spend 30-40 minutes creating resources and developing ideas based on the morning sessions. After each 30-minute period, the groups will present their results, including problems they may foresee. The groups will then move to a different topic, with the understanding that the new group would develop totally new ideas. At the end of three rounds of this, the entire workshop would consider the larger problems from these three areas and how we might negotiate those issues.
History Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Spencer Tyce is a History Instructor at SCGSSM, where he teaches courses on the US, Colonial Latin America, and the History of Science. With nearly 20 years of experience in teaching and writing about history, he has contributed to professional journals and peer-reviewed collections... Read More →
The workshop will divide participants into three groups (instructor tools, student tools, and curriculum design) and spend 30-40 minutes creating resources and developing ideas based on the morning sessions. After each 30-minute period, the groups will present their results, including problems they may foresee. The groups will then move to a different topic, with the understanding that the new group would develop totally new ideas. At the end of three rounds of this, the entire workshop would consider the larger problems from these three areas and how we might negotiate those issues.
History Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Spencer Tyce is a History Instructor at SCGSSM, where he teaches courses on the US, Colonial Latin America, and the History of Science. With nearly 20 years of experience in teaching and writing about history, he has contributed to professional journals and peer-reviewed collections... Read More →
