What is social studies

1
What is social studies?

• House keeping
• The disciplines of humanities and social studies
  revisited
• Professor Dr.Nganga (Nana)

2
Social studies is?

• Social studies is the study of history,
  geography, civics, sociology, economics, and
  other social science subjects in primary and
  secondary schools in North America.
• Social studies is the integrated study of the
  social sciences and humanities to promote civic
  competence.

3
Definitions continued..

• A systematic study drawing upon such disciplines
  as anthropology, archaeology, economics,
  geography, history, law, philosophy, political
  sciences, psychology, religion, and sociology, as
  well as appropriate content from the humanities,
  mathematics, and natural sciences.

4
Definition continued

• Social studies can also refer to the study of
  particular aspects of human society at certain
  post-secondary and tertiary schools worldwide.
  Such institutions provide courses, program(me)s
  of study, or possibly certificates, diplomas, or
  degrees in 'social studies'.

5
Primary purpose

• primary purpose of social studies is to help
  young people develop the ability to make informed
  and reasoned decisions for the public good as
  citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic
  society in an interdependent world (NCSS Task
  Force on Standards for Teaching and Learning in
  the Social Studies, 1993, p. 213).

6
Social studies continued

• According to Zarrillo (2004) social studies is
  the study of people and is supposed to help
  learners acquire knowledge, master the process of
  learning, and become active citizens.
• What does this mean?
• Why study people?
• What are the sources of information?

7
What activities?

• Activities in visual and performing arts are
  great ways to introduce students to humanities
  and social studies in general.
• These activities should include?
• Birth of Social Studies
• What do you know?

8
Birth of social studies

• Influence of progressive education (John Dewey,
  1900, 1902), (Francis W. Parker, 1883, 1894).
  According to Parker we learn to do by doing, to
  hear by hearing, and to think by thinking
  )1883, p. 115.
• Social studies should be more than memorization
  of facts. Encourage students to learn to think,
  hypothesize, to find answers.
• Activity based. Learning requires first hand
  experiences Activities should include but not
  limited to opportunities to act/drama, sing,
  build, dance, field trips, hands on activities.
• Use of many instructional materials Examples
  should include
• Build on childrens interests. Have units that
  allow students to select their learning
  activities.

9
Influence of Bruner in social studies

• Bruner a psychologist at Harvard University wrote
  a book on the conference The Process of
  Education (1960) in which he requested for
  educational reform in elementary education. The
  book provided instructional theory for new social
  studies.
• Bruner proposed a curriculum involved
• Introducing students to several social science
  disciplines to include but not limited to
  anthropology, economics, and sociology.
• Introduce inquiry - the process of problem
  solving and answering questions.
• believed that student should do same activities
  as grown ups (popular in the 1960-70s).
  Abandoned in the 70s for the traditional
  text-book orientation. (What is the problem with
  this approach?
• Social studies should involve opportunities for
  children to problem solve.

10
Practical framework

• See Duplass, page 5
• The NCSS believes that effective social studies
  programs include experiences that provide for the
  study of
• Culture
• Time, Continuity, and Change
• People, Places, and Environment
• Individual Development and Identity
• Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
• Power, Authority, and Government
• Production, Distribution, and Consumption
• Science, Technology, and Society
• Global Connections
• Civic Ideals and Practices
• Source http//www.socialstudies.org/about/

11
Small Groups The teachers role

• 1. What is the teachers Role ( Nelson, 1998) in a
  social studies/humanities class?
• 2. What are the goals of schooling and how do
  they fit in Social studies?
• 3. Describe the role of a teacher as an agent
  change.
• 4. What hindrances are likely to be faced by
  teachers as they implement change in the face of
  diversity?

12
Terms from Duplass

• With examples explain each of the following
  terms as used by Duplass (2004) and explain why
  they are important in teaching social studies
• Basic skills and knowledge
• Information Knowledge
• Cultural literacy
• Procedural Knowledge
• Essential social studies skills
• Modes of reasoning
• Academic disposition
• Big idea
• Explicit teaching

13
Methods of Instructionin social studies

• Blooms Taxonomy (1956).
• What are Blooms six question categories? What
  does each involve?
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.

14
Design a lesson using the six areas from Bloom

• In small groups of 3 or 4
• Decide on a topic
• Age (grade level)
• Design a lesson (you have done this in your
  3000).
• Present lesson to class
• Other business???