Bill Tally

Bill Tally, PhD, investigates the educational uses of digital media in schools, libraries, museums, and communities. He is especially interested in understanding how the strategic use of digital tools can make social studies and humanities learning rigorous, meaningful, and engaging.

Tally’s work is distinguished by a focus on applied research and collaboration with teachers, media designers, and content experts. Drawing on his background in research, he has led ambitious efforts to develop digital tools, such as Zoom In, that support teaching and learning in multiple disciplines. Tally has also conducted formative and summative evaluations that help program developers assess and refine a wide array of initiatives focused on digital games and storytelling, the needs of diverse learners, and teacher professional development. He is a frequent speaker and writer on issues of media, children, and learning.

Tally holds a PhD in sociology from the City University of New York.

“Social studies teachers still need lots of support in learning how to act on the new standards and combine the traditional demands of content mastery with a greater focus on literacy skills.”