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William B. Russell, Ph.D. Associate Professor & Social Science Education Ph.D. Coordinator School of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Office: ED 115-J Phone: 407- 823-4345 Email:

Dr. William B. Russell III is Associate Professor of Social Science Education at The University of Central Florida. He teaches social studies education courses and serves as the Social Science Education Ph.D. track coordinator. Dr. Russell has won various awards including the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award for his outstanding record of research and the Teaching Incentive Program Award for his outstanding record of teaching. Dr. Russell also serves as the director for The International Society for the Social Studies and is the editor of The Journal of Social Studies Research. His research interests include the teaching and learning of social studies and teaching with film. Dr. Russell has authored over forty-five peer-reviewed journal articles related to social studies education which have been featured in journals like Action in Teacher Education, Social Education, The Journal of Social Studies Research, The History Teacher, Social Studies and the Young Learner, and The Social Studies. Dr. Russell has published eight books including, Contemporary Social Studies: An Essential Reader (2012), Reel Character Education: A Cinematic Approach to Character Development (2010, co-author S. Waters), Teaching Social Issues with Film (2009), Civil War Films for Teachers and Historians (2008), and Using Film in the Social Studies (2007). Dr. Russell earned his Ph.D. in Social Science Education from Florida State University and prior to moving into higher education, taught middle and high school social studies.
The International Society for the Social Studies | The Journal of Social Studies Research

Publications
Books (Selected)

• Turner, T., Russell, W., & Waters, S. (In Press). Essentials of elementary social studies. New York, NY: Routledge.

• Russell, W. (Ed.). (2012). Contemporary Social Studies: An Essential Reader. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
• Russell, W. & Waters, S. (2010). Reel character education: A cinematic approach to values analysis. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
• Russell, W. (2009). Teaching social issues with film. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
• Russell, W. (2008). Civil War films for teachers and historians. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, Inc.
• Russell, W. (2007). Using film in the social studies. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, Inc.

Selected Professional Refereed Journal Articles (Selected from 45)

• Russell, W. (In Press). Teaching with film: A research study of secondary social studies teachers’ use of film. The Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 3(1).
• Waters, S. & Russell, W. (In Press). Monumental controversies: Exploring the contested history of the United States landscape. The Social Studies.
• Waters, S. & Russell, W. (In Press). Analyzing human rights violations during the World War II era. Social Education.
• Pellegrino, A., Mann, L., & Russell, W. (In Press). Historical Examination of the Segregated School Experience. The History Teacher.
• Scheiner-Fisher, C. & Russell, W. (In Press). Using historical films to promote gender equity in the history curriculum. The Social Studies.
• Pagnotti, J. & Russell, W. (In Press). Exploring medieval European society with chess. The History Teacher.
• Russell, W. (2012). The art of teaching social studies with film. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues, and Ideas, 85(4), 1-8.
• Russell, W. (2012). The reel history of the world: Teaching world history with major motion pictures. Social Education, 76(1), 22-28.
• Pagnotti, J. & Russell, W. (2012). Using Civilization IV to engage students in world history content. The Social Studies, 103(1), 39-48.
• Waters, S. & Russell, W. (2012). Monuments all over the world: Using historical monuments to teach cultural geography. Social Studies Research and Practice.
• Fitchett, P. & Russell, W. (2011). Reflecting on MACOS: Why it failed and what we can learn from its demise. Paedagogica Historica: International Journal of the History of Education, 47(1), 1-16.
• Russell, W. & Waters, S. (2010). Cinematic citizenship: Developing citizens of character with film. Action in Teacher Education, 32(2), 12-23.
• Russell, W. (2010). The Berlin Wall: A simulation for the social studies classroom. Social Education, 74(3), 152-154.
• Russell, W. (2010). Teaching social studies in the 21st century: A research study of secondary social studies teacher’s instructional methods and practices. Action in Teacher Education, 32(1), 65-72.
• Russell, W. (2009). Social Studies, the lost curriculum: A research study of elementary teachers and the forces impacting the time spent on social studies. Curriculum and Teaching, 24(2), 75-86.
• Byford, J., Lennon, S., & Russell, W. (2009). Teaching controversial issues in the social studies: A research study of high school teachers. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues, and Ideas, 82(4), 165-170.
• Russell, W. & Byford, J. (2009). Fostering discussion through case studies in the history classroom: A case study of high school students. International Journal of Historical Learning, Teaching, and Research, 8(2), 133-139.
• Russell, W. (2009). Engaging students in geography using travel. The Geography Teacher, 6(1), 27-30.
• Russell, W. & Pellegrino, A. (2008). Constructing meaning from historical content: A research study. The Journal of Social Studies Research. 32(2), 3-15.
• Russell, W. & Byford, J. (2008). Revisiting the High School Geography Project. The Geography Teacher, 5(1), 22-23.
• Holmes, K., Russell, W., & Movitz, A. (2007). Reading in the social studies: Using subtitled films. Social Education, 71(6), 326-330.
• Russell, W. (2007). A picture is worth 20 questions. Middle Level Learning, 30(3), 16.
• Russell, W. (2007). Teaching the Holocaust with online art: A case study of high school students. The Journal of Social Studies Research, 31(2), 35-42.
• Byford, J & Russell, W. (2007). The New Social Studies: A historical examination of curriculum reform. Social Studies Research and Practice, 2(1), 38-48.
• Sumrall, J., Russell, W., & Carter, L. (2007). Yard Sale! Challenges for young geographers. Social Studies and the Young Learner, 20(2), P1-P4.
• Russell, W. (2006). Black history month: A guide to Web resources.Learning and Leading with Technology, 33(5), 44-45.
• Russell, W. (2005). Teaching the Holocaust: A resource guide. The Social Studies, 96(2), 93-96.
• Russell, W. (2004). Lost in translation: Web site enhances instruction for non-English speakers. T.H.E. Journal, 31(10), 26-28.