Michael J. Berson

Dr. Michael J. Berson is a Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Education. He coordinates the Ph.D. Program in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Social Science Education, co-coordinates the Elementary Education MAT Program, and serves as Senior Fellow at the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship. His research focuses on civic education, historical inquiry, and technological innovation in social studies pedagogy.

• Ph.D., University of Toledo
• M.Ed., University of Toledo
• B.A., University at Buffalo

His work emphasizes inquiry-driven instruction, ethical use of digital technologies, and integration of primary sources to address complex social issues. He has pioneered initiatives in digital citizenship and cybersecurity education for K-12 classrooms, leveraging participatory and visual research methods to study how learners construct meaning in tech-mediated environments.

Key publication trends span social studies pedagogy, Holocaust education, and technological innovation, notably the KidCitizen app for civic participation. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Education, Spencer Foundation, and Library of Congress.

• USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
• National Council for the Social Studies President’s Award
• Irving Morrissett Award for Social Science Education
• Taylor & Francis Outstanding Article Award (2025)

Dr. Berson has served as principal/co-principal investigator on multiple federally funded grants, including NSF projects for cybersecurity education platforms and Library of Congress grants for visual literacy and historical inquiry. He co-chairs USF’s Digital Ecosystem Committee and advises global organizations on tech integration in education. His leadership roles include Chair of the College and University Faculty Assembly (NCSS), Vice President of SITE, and President of the Social Science Education Consortium.