Special Issue: Social Studies in the Era of AI
October 31, 2025

Special Issue: Social Studies in the Era of AI

    Call for Proposals Special Issue: Social Studies in the Era of AI (Scheduled Publication Date: Summer/Fall 2026) Guest Editors: William Russell III, Ph.D. | University of Central Florida Stewart Waters, Ph.D. | University of Tennessee, Knoxville Matt Hensley, Ph.D. | University of Tennessee, Knoxville Social Studies in the Era of GenAI As AI and other digital technologies reshape how we access information, communicate, and understand the world, social studies education must prepare learners to think critically and act responsibly in an automated, algorithm-driven society. This special issue of Research in Social Sciences and Technology (RESSAT) invites proposals exploring how disciplinary literacy skills, such as thinking, reading, and reasoning within and across disciplines, can guide teaching and learning amid rapid technological change. We seek contributions exploring how social studies can address the opportunities and challenges of AI, foster critical technological literacy, and uphold democratic values in a rapidly changing digital world. Submissions may examine strategies, practices, or research demonstrating how disciplinary thinking supports critical engagement with digital information, civic understanding, and responsible participation. Abstracts on a range of related topics are welcome, including but not limited to: Integrating AI tools to enhance disciplinary inquiry and creativity Fostering disciplinary literacy in digital and media-rich contexts; Addressing issues of ethics, equity, and bias in AI and information systems; Rethinking assessment, collaboration, and student voice in the age of automation; Preparing educators to navigate and teach about AI’s civic and global implications. Teaching ethical, historical, and civic dimensions of AI in K–12 and higher education. Preparing students to critically engage with AI-generated media and misinformation. Reimagining civic participation and democratic engagement in the era of AI. Pedagogical innovations that explore civic implications in the context of automation and emerging technologies. Interdisciplinary approaches to exploring the social impact of AI within history, geography, economics, and civics classrooms. Research in Social Sciences and Technology (RESSAT) (ISSN: 2468-6891) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes original empirical and theoretical work at the intersection of social sciences and technology. This special issue of RESSAT will be published free of charge. Contributing authors will not be asked to pay any APC or publication fee. Special Issue Timeline: Abstract submission deadline: December 1, 2025 Invitation to submit full manuscript: December 5, 2025 Initial manuscript submission deadline: January 15, 2026 Peer review feedback to authors: February 15, 2026 Revised manuscript submission deadline: March 15, 2026 Publication of special issue: Summer 2026 Submission Guidelines: Interested authors should submit abstracts of up to 300 words, identifying their manuscript as either an empirical research article or an essay/opinion piece to Dr. Matt Hensley at mhensl13@utk.edu Research articles should include a literature review, clearly stated research questions, methodology, findings, and discussion. Manuscripts should adhere to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition and be submitted as Microsoft Word file. The manuscript should use a 12-point Times New Roman font. RESSAT Author Guidelines: https://ressat.org/index.php/ressat/author-guidelines All submissions must include: A title page with author(s) contact information. If there are multiple authors, designate a corresponding author. An abstract of 300 words or less. For inquiries, please contact the special issue guest editor(s): William Russell III, Ph.D. | russell@ucf.edu Stewart Waters, Ph.D. | kwaters2@utk.edu Matt Hensley, Ph.D.  | mhensl13@utk.edu