Indiana Social Studies IS.4.4

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Economics

The Standard

Analyze the economic, social, and environmental impact of technologies on the state.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students examine how a technology used in their state affects jobs and costs, daily life, and land or energy use. They use local examples or data to weigh benefits against costs.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can use a state broadband map to identify an underserved area. They can explain how new service might affect businesses, access to health care, and energy use, while separating likely effects from proven ones.
Common Misconceptions: Students may count jobs as the only economic effect and miss costs to build or use a technology. They may assume a cleaner technology has no environmental costs. They may also treat a statewide trend as proof that one technology caused it.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A state adds broadband cables and towers to rural towns. Name one economic, one social, and one environmental effect, then explain one tradeoff.

Lesson moves

Give groups a state map and cards labeled fiber line, remote job, telehealth visit, and cable trench; place each card and label its impact.
Ask: Should the state fund rural broadband first or upgrade city networks? Defend a choice using business, household, and land-use effects.
Sort cards reading new online store, video doctor visit, and tower electricity use into economic, social, and environmental effects.
Use the FCC broadband map to find an underserved area in the state; write one possible business gain and one construction cost.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to IS.4.4, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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