The Great Plebeian College

College Department
Alaminos City, Pangasinan
Term: 1st Semester

FOUNDATION
OF

Instructor: Miss Jessa V. Gallardo

Email Account: gallardojessa4@gmail.com
Contact Number: (0930-005-0066)
Consultation time: M-F / 8:00AM-6:00PM

FOUNDATION OF SOCIAL STUDIES PRELIM MODULE 1

Dear Learner,

Greetings of Peace!
Welcome to first term!
This academic year is different among the previous school years you had
enrolled and finished. Amidst the crisis brought about by the COVID-19
Pandemic, The Great Plebeian College continue to look for ways and alternatives
for us to continue provide a relevant learning assuring the deliverance of quality
instruction to all Plebeian Learners. The Education sector is highly affected but
in spite of it, we, your teachers will continue to strive in order for us to provide
you an accessible, affordable and easy access modal of learning for you to cope
up with the trends of the 21 st century and so-called “New Normal”. The
transition stage of the new normal in education continues and shouldn’t be a
hindrance for you to achieve your dreams.
This learning module is especially designed for you since face-to-face
learning is not yet possible as of this time. Learning tasks, activities, reading
texts, illustrations and graphics are provided in this module for your thorough
study at home. Every topic goes with a task which is aligned with the course
syllabus. You will accomplish every task within a time frame. You will be notified
with the schedule of retrieving your accomplished tasks.
We hope that this home-based learning will give you an opportunity to
learn and become productive. Indeed, this is a new experience for all of us
which requires us to adjust and adapt for the first few weeks or months. It may
seem difficult that we will not be able to interact but through your cooperation
along with your parents or guardian’s support and understanding, we will make
it through.
Enjoy studying and God bless!

FOUNDATION OF SOCIAL STUDIES PRELIM MODULE 2

Table of Contents

Introduction

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This module aims to study the meaning, nature, its kind, and concept of social studies.
In broad strokes, it gives a background on the nature of various disciplines which are
the subject matter of foundation of social studies. Social studies  ignites a curiosity
about real-world issues. It helps you as students to understand developments that are
taking place in society and the world as well as their roles in shaping the future of the
nation. The module also examines and guides you to demonstrate knowledge on the
nature, history, philosophical and theoretical perspectives in Social Studies/Science as a
body of knowledge. It also deals with the comparative analyses and relationships of the
various Social Science aspects.

Module Map

What Kind of
Science are the
Social Sciences?

Justification for Scope of Social

Using the Term Sciences
Teaching/Pedagogy

Social Studies

Importance of
Difference between Teaching Social
Social Studies and Sciences
Social Sciences

Meaning and Nature

of Social Studies

STUDY GUIDE:

FOLLOW the
GUIDELINES

IN ANSWERING THE ACTIVITIES IN THIS MODULE

 Read the direction/instruction in each activity carefully

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module it is therefore expected that you should be able to do the following:

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a. describe the meaning, nature, its kind, and concept of social studies;
b. differentiate the concept and purpose of teaching social studies in school;
c. examine the distinguishing features between social studies and various social sciences
disciplines; and
d. recognize the need and importance of teaching social sciences in Philippine school.

Guideline Topic
1. What Kind of Science are the Social Sciences?
2. Scope of Social Sciences
3. Need and Importance of Teaching Social Sciences in Philippine School?
4. Meaning and Nature of Social Studies
5. Difference between Social Studies and Social Sciences
6. Justification for Using the Term Teaching/Pedagogy of Social Sciences in Place of
Teaching/Pedagogy of Social Studies

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS COURSE

The course will avail you an opportunity to acquire the basic and relevant knowledge
and skills required for becoming a professional teacher of Social Studies who can boast
of adequate grasp of the content of the subject. The Course is expected to facilitate
your understanding of the historical and philosophical background of Social Studies as
well as the values of learning the subject. You will also learn about the relationship
between the subject and other disciplines such as history, sociology, economics,
geography, and other subjects. Some basic concepts such as growth and development,
peace and conflict resolution, self-reliance human rights and civic responsibilities which
are part of the major drivers of most curriculum contents in Social Studies will also be
learnt in this Course Guide.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Effective teaching and learning of Social Studies at any level demands a detailed but
not lopsided understanding of the meaning of the subject in such a way that the bias of
training does not influence the way a teacher ends up handling the subject in class. In
this Unit, which happens to be your first contact with this course material, it is expected
that you will be familiarised with the definitions of the subject as supported by
contemporary practitioners of the subject. The various 16 confusions that have
characterised the definitions of the subject based on the professional biases of teachers
handling the subject in our schools will be cleared. This will therefore give you the
chance of getting acquainted with the details of what an ideal definition of Social
Studies should be.

What Social Studies is Not

The circumstances surrounding the introduction of the subject, Social Studies into
Nigeria can be identified as one major factor that has influenced the way the subject
has been variedly defined in the past years. The early practitioners of the subject
allowed their professional background and preparation to influence what they perceived
and taught as Social Studies. Lawal and Oyeleye (2003) in support of this view
remarked that the definitions, nature and scope of the subject became so restricted to
the confinements of the single discipline purview of the Social Sciences.

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To some of the practitioners in this category, Social Studies was defined as
“amalgamation of all knowledge of the arts and social sciences, in terms of history,
geography, political science and sociology. Quartey (1984) remarked that the
protagonists of this view argue that knowledge is one and indivisible and that it is only
for convenience that it has been divided into subject compartments. Curriculum labelled
on this view only ended up departmentalising knowledge by selecting assortment of
topics from the Social Sciences. This can only compel the teachers holding this view to
limit their selection of topics related to their discipline, with emphasis on such topics at
the neglect of other topics unless other specialists can be found to handle other aspects
of the curriculum.

Some other practitioners of the subject have equally defined Social Studies as the study
of the relationship between man and his environment. As an adjunct, they it is how
man influences the environment and how the environment influences man. Quartey
(1984) observes that this view has strong geographical and sociological connotations.
These standpoints present the false notion that Social Studies has nothing new to offer.
By presenting Social Studies in subject compartments, it attempts to negate the
importance attached to the attainment of unity of knowledge.

Teachers who had this perception of the subject’s definition, taught Social Studies
purely for knowledge acquisition. This approach to the definition of the subject does not
adequately emphasise the affective domain of learning as it merely focuses on the
cognitive orientations of the subject.

Though none of these definitions can be an acceptable definition of Social Studies, each
contains some elements which an ideal definition of the subject should contain. Again,
one cannot deny that Social Studies deals with facts derived from interpersonal and
man-land relationship, but it is wrong to assume that it focuses on a body of precise
memorable facts about man and the environment.

This is because Social Studies is not a discipline in which academic selfishness is

exhibited or promoted. That is, a discipline in which a teacher seizes opportunity to
emphasise his/her own area of specialisation at the expense of the real content of the
subject (no compartmentalisation of knowledge). This position will lead us into looking
at what an ideal definition of the subject should read like.

What Social Studies is

Notable scholars have defined Social Studies in ways that confirm the subject as a
value-laden discipline. For instance, Frost and Rowland (1969) defined the subject as
essentially studies of human relationship, like human to human, human to institutions,
human to physical environment and human to value systems. This implies that the
subject is one that encourages attention to be given to the process of living and
working together, using of the environment to met basic human needs, customs,
institutions, values and life situations, cultural heritage and its dynamic on-going
characteristics.

Quartey (1984) in his own definition of Social Studies describes the subject as a “study
that equips the youth with tools necessary in solving personal and community related
problems”. Thus defined, Social Studies will not mainly aim at giving out knowledge,
but it will equally emphasise on inculcating a certain distillate knowledge which will
assist humans in acquiring the tools necessary for life. Such tools are knowledge,

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values, attitudes and skills. These tools are expected to assist the learner in solving
both personal and community related problems.

The National Council for Social Studies in the United States of America has officially
defined subject as:

An integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence
and help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions as
citizens of culturally diverse, democratic society in an inter dependent world. (NCSS
1992)

This implies that the goal of Social Studies purely revolves around citizenship education,
education for cultural integration and sustainable living.

Social Studies can therefore be described as a discipline which attempts to modify or

change the learners’ behaviours in the directions of acceptable values and attitudes
through a process of studying human beings relationship with his or her environment
and with the desire to provide solutions to various complementing problems in order to
ensure his/her survival, having been equipped with the necessary tools such as values,
attitudes, skills and knowledge (Lawal,1993).

As a social subject, it is more inter-disciplinary, more concerned with skills development

and more normative. It is a field of study in which content and prupose focus on
relationships. It provides knowledge, attitudes, values and skills that enable people
understand better their physical and human environments in order to act or behave as
responsible citizens. Its primary purpose 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.

1.2 The scope of Social Science

The word “science” is older than its modern use. The word has become a short-form for
“natural science”. It is a recent development that society has become the object of an
organized body of knowledge which can be standardized and taught objectively, while
following its own rules and methodology.

The Social science has a wide scope. The social sciences comprise academic disciplines
concerned with the study of social life of human groups, animals and individuals
including anthropology, archaeology, communication studies, cultural studies,
demography, economics, human geography, history, linguistics, media studies, political
science, psychology, social work and sociology.

Mathematucs, and study of history, poetry or politics had no difference in the past. With
the development of mathematical proof the people perceived the difference between
scientific disciplines and others. Aristotle studies poetry and planetary motion at the
same time with the same methods, and Plato mixed geometrical proofs with his
demonstration on the state of intrinsic knowledge.

The study of social science is concerned as vital for the future of the society throughout
the world and provides many degrees in the respective fields.

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The Public Administration, one of the main branches of political science, can be
described as the development, implementation and study of branches of government
policy. The non-government organizations (NGO’S) are working for the betterment of
the society throughout the world.

The social sciences are sometimes criticized as being less scientific than the natural
sciences in that they are seen as being less rigorous or empirical in their methods. This
claim has been made in the so-called science wars and is most commonly made when
comparing social sciences to fields such as physics, chemistry or biology in which
corroboration of the hypothesis is far more incisive with regard to date observed from
specifically designed experiments. Social science can thus be deemed to be largely
observational, in that explanations for cause-effect relationships are largely subjective.
A limited degree of freedom is available in designing the factor setting for a particular
observational study. Social scientists however, argue against such claims by pointing to
the use of a rich variety of scientific processes, mathematical proofs, and other methods
in their professional literature.

The modern world is making progress by leaps and bounds and the social sciences have
its vital role in the development of the world. The following main branches of social
cience deal with the main issues facing by the modern world.

The human being is surrounded by the limited problems and as a human being one
needs to solve them desperately.

Social work is concerned with social problems, their causes, their solutions and their
human impacts. Social workers work with individuals, families, group, organizations and
communities. Social work is the profession committed to the pursuit of social justice, to
the enhancement of the quality of life, and to the development of full potential of each
individual, group and community in society.

 1.3 Need and Importance of Teaching Social Sciences in Philippine School?

We all have to take it, and teachers have to teach social studies. But why? What
aspects of social studies make it so important that it is always included? Social studies is
a discipline that includes humanities such as geography, history, and political science.
Why is social studies important? Let’s explore why.
 
“The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people make informed and
reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic
society in an interdependent world.”

What Is Social Studies?

Social studies can also be referred to as social sciences. It’s a field which deals with
human behavior, relationships, resources, and institutions.
 
Specific topics within social studies that are studied in school coursework include
geography, anthropology, economics, history, sociology, political science, and civics.

Aim And Purpose Of Social Studies

The main goal of teaching social studies is to teach students to become good citizens.
We are living in a diverse society — one that requires knowledge of social studies to

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succeed. With a social studies background, children become adults that can participate
civilly in our democratic society.

Social Studies In The 21st Century

Social studies connect students with the real world. In today’s interconnected world,
students must be prepared to interact with people of all cultures and communities, and
social studies prepares them for this.

The Importance Of Social Studies In The School Curriculum

All children who go through the school curriculum become something when they
graduate. And no matter what that something is, they will need to interact with others
from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Students must study how
society works, and how people work in a society in order for it all to work once they
enter society after graduation.
 

REASONS: WHY IS SOCIAL STUDIES IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS?

Students learn skills through social studies that help them succeed in further education
as well as life. Here are all the amazing ways learning social studies benefits kids and
society together:
 
 
1. Better Reading And Learning
 
Social studies is one area in education where content integration is key. Students are
given reading material that corresponds with the current learning topics. Giving reading
materials in context helps students become better readers. They also become better
learners because they are asked to use analysis, critical thinking, and writing to show
understanding.
 
 
2. Citizen Responsibilities And Values
 
How can we expect young people to contribute positively to society, engage in
discourse, and thrive in a democratic society if they are not exposed to the topics and
aspects of history and life that made society the way it is? Students need an
understanding of history, political science, culture, and all humanities to be able to
understand why it is important to be a good citizen.
 
 
3. Cultural Understanding
 
Students should be exposed to cultures far beyond what they experience personally
every day. Not every student has the opportunity to interact with other cultures on a
daily basis. We need students to learn about, understand, and appreciate cultural
differences if we expect them to have meaningful interactions with people of all
backgrounds in the future.
 
 
4. Economic Education
 

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Economics is a crucial part of social studies, whether studied on its own, or as a part of
history, anthropology, or political science. By learning economics, young people
understand how their financial decisions have an impact on their future, as well as the
future of society.

5. Critical Thinking
 
Critical thinking is a part of social studies — students are taught to evaluate others’
decisions and make connections between influences and circumstances. Young people
get the opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes through social sciences.
 
 
6. Real-World Understanding
 
Studying social sciences gives students an understanding of the real world around
them. Students learn about places, cultures, and events around the world, what
conspired to make them the way they are, and can make inferences about how the rest
of the world works.
 
 
7. Political Skills
 
From social studies classes, students learn about government, political ideas, country
economy and resources, and more. Students gain political skills by analyzing and
evaluating existing systems and imaging the future of the place in which they live.
 
 
8. Respect History
 
History is what made the world the way it is, and it is essential that people study it in
order to have an appreciation for and understanding of the way the world works.
Learning about history is what makes it possible to learn from the past and plan for the
future.
 
 
Making Sense of the World: Social Studies for Young Students
One of the reasons for teaching young people social studies is for them to be able to
participate civilly in a democratic society. Children start as early as kindergarten to
understand the world around them, and schools should follow suit and start teaching
social studies concepts such as communication, critical thinking, and culture as early as
possible.
 
 

QUALITIES OF PURPOSEFUL SOCIAL STUDIES

1. Meaningful
 
Social studies should be meaningful to students. Teachers should embrace the natural
interests of students and plan topics around those interests.
 

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2. Integrative
 
Integrating all aspects of life is key to a successful social studies curriculum. Not only
should current events and other classes be integrated, but also aspects of daily life as
well. Every moment is a teachable moment.
 
3. Value-Based
 
Key values of democracy are opportunity, equality, justice, and freedom of speech.
These values should be echoed throughout all parts of social studies.
 
4. Challenging
 
Teachers can challenge children in social studies classes in ways they aren’t or can’t be
challenged in other classes. In-depth critical analysis should be implemented — getting
students to think and reflect will help them engage and challenge them to care about
what’s going on around them.
 
5. Active
 
Get students active and engaged with debates, discussions, role playing, projects, and
simulations. This is one area of school where kids should really get into it!
 
 
Teaching Teachers At University Of The People
Teaching social studies is a fun challenge, and is a way to really have an impact on the
future of a generation. At University of the People, we teach teachers how to be the
most effective and passionate teachers they can be. Even better, our degrees are
complete online and tuition-free – meaning you can study wherever and whenever,
without any worries.
 
So if you were wondering, “why is social studies important?” Now you have countless
answers! Social studies helps students and societies be the best they can be.
 

SOCIAL SCIENCE - MEANING, NATURE AND SCOPE

Social Science is a generic term covering the scientific study of man. It is a discipline or
branch of science that deals with the socio-cultural aspects of human behaviour. The
social sciences generally include cultural anthropology, economics, political science,
sociology, criminology, and social psychology.

What are the seven social sciences?

The seven social sciences are: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political
science, sociology, and psychology.

Definition of Social Science:

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Social science is defined as any scholastic discipline or scientific field that investigates
human society. According to James High “Social Sciences as those bodies of learning
and study which recognizes the simultaneous and mutual action of physical and no-
physical stimuli which produce social relation”. According to Charles Beard “Social
Sciences are a body of knowledge and thought pertaining to human affairs as
distinguished from sticks, stones, stars and physical objects”. Bining & Bining defines
Social Science as “the subject that relate to the origin, organization, and development
of human society, especially to man in his association with other men”.

Social Studies:

Social Studies is a field of study which deals with man, his relation with other men and
his environment; its content is drawn from several social sciences. It is a course of
study including anthropology, history, geography, economics, political science,
sociology, law, civics, etc.

Definition of Social Studies:

According to Michaelis, “the Social Studies are concerned with man and his interaction
with his social and physical environment; they deal with human relationships; the
central function of the social studies is identical with the central purpose of education –
the development of democratic citizenship”. National Council for the Social Studies
defined Social Studies as “the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to
promote civic competence".

Nature of Social Science:

The real nature of this discipline can be well understood by analyzing the above
definitions.

1. A unique combination of various disciplines.

2. A study of human relationships.

3. A study of man’s development through ages.

4. A realistic course of study.

5. It forms an important part of the core-curriculum.

6. It includes commitment to action.

7. Aims at preparing the learner for wholesome social living.

Scope of Social Studies:

The scope of Social Studies is very vast and wide as wide as the world itself and as
lengthy as the history of man. According to Michaelis “the breadth of social studies
programme should provide for a variety of experiences so that the child’s learning will
be well rounded and well balanced”.

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The main points are as follows:
1. Vast and wide as the world. It is as wide as the world and s long as the world. It is
the study of human relationships in areas such as:
a. People of one’s own nationality and people across the world.
b. People and various kinds of institutions.
c. People and Earth.
d. People and Time.
e. People and resources.
2. A functional study of Natural and Physical sciences and Fine Arts. Social Science -
Natural Science – Physical Science are inter related Development, change, etc. in one
field effect the others

3. A study of current affairs.

4. A study leading to International Understanding.

5. Practical study of various resources.

Similarities between Social studies and Social Sciences:

· Social Science and Social Studies are not only related generically. They also share
common body of content.

· Both are related to society and have same aims and objectives.

· Both emphasis on inculcating good qualities like truthfulness, sincerity, etc. of human
being.

· Both helps to understand the various aspects of the society and utilize them.

· Both are must be accurate and reliable- only then can be useful.

Difference between Social Studies and Social Science:

1. The focus and emphasis of both are different:- When a student studies geography as
a social science, he has to focus his attention on the methods of geography, tools and
concepts, etc. Wile studying geography as a social studies, he should focus attention on
using ideas and concepts from geography, to understand man, how his efforts to
control his environment have led to a better life, how various geographical factors
influence his life, etc.

2. Social Sciences represent an adult approach, while the social studies represent a
child-approach: Social sciences are to be taught at the high school and college level.
Social Studies are simplified portions of social sciences to be taught at primary level.

3. Social sciences are the theory part of human affairs; social studies are the practice
part of human affairs: Social sciences are large bodies of organized and authentic
knowledge representing human affairs. While social studies gives an insight into various
aspects of man and society.

4. The social sciences are far larger than the social studies: The purpose of the social
sciences is to find out new truth about human relationships; the purpose of the social

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studies is to guide adolescents in their learning of selected portions of what has been
discovered in social sciences.

5. In social sciences, social utility is the primary object; in social studies instructional
utility is the primary object.
6. Social sciences are the part of cultural of knowledge having direct bearing on man’s
activities in any field, Social studies offers learning situation and insight into all
knowledge.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES

Social studies and social science can be easy to confuse. Though Social they are sounds
like two similar concepts, and deal with some of the same subject matter. They are two
different fields of study. However, there are some key differences which distinguish the
two terms so that they cannot be used interchangeably. In this article, we are going to
look at the difference between social science and social studies.

What is Social Science?

Social Science is a subject area that studies the society and the relationships among
individuals within a society. Social Science is categorized into many branches such as
Geography (study of the earth and its features, inhabitants, and phenomena),
Anthropology (study of humans), History (study of past), Economics (study of
production, distribution and consumption of goods and services), political science(study
of theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems
and political behavior.) etc.

What is Social Studies?

Social studies can be introduced as the study of both social sciences and humanities.
According to U.S American National Council for the Social Studies, “Social studies, is the
integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence.”
However, social studies is most often used as a name of the course taught at schools.

What are the difference between Social Science and Social studies?

1. The main difference between social science and social studies is in their intended
purposes. The social sciences are branches of study that analyze society and the social
interactions of people within a society. Subjects that fall under the umbrella of social
sciences are: anthropology, history, economics, geography, and many others that
explore societal relations.

Social studies is the systematic study of an integrated body of content drawn from the
social sciences and the humanities. It enables students to develop their knowledge and
understandings of the diverse and dynamic nature of society and of how interactions
occur among cultures, societies, and environments.

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2. Social science is more streams oriented. It's the science of the society; the in depth
knowledge and systematic study of each branch of social transaction. It is empirical and
based on various scientific methods of deduction to arrive at a conclusion based on
facts. Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to
promote effective citizenry. Social studies are subjects most frequently taught to school
students to help them understand how to be effective citizens of society.

3. Social Science, as the name implies, deals with the science of society utilizing the
gathering of data and analysis of that data. Whereas Social Studies normally deals with
the observation of Society. Here students develop and apply skills as they investigate
society, explore issues, make decisions, and work cooperatively with others.

4. Social sciences are taught under higher studies curriculum whereas, social studies
are subjects most frequently taught to school based students to help them understand
how to be effective citizens of society.

5. The core difference between social science and social studies exist in their purpose;
in social science, you study the society and social life of human groups while in social
studies, you study both social science and humanities in order to promote effective
citizenry.

6. Social Studies is the study of all phases of societies whereas Social Science is the
inference of those studies with the intention of solving problems within a society, which
may lead to the ultimate development of the society as a whole.

7. Social science is the field of sciences concerned with the studies of the social life of
human groups and individuals. Social studies is a term used to describe the broad study
of various fields which involves past and current human behavior and interactions

8. Another difference is that Social science is divided into many branches while social
studies is divided into two main categories of humanities and social sciences.

9. Social science dates back to the 18th century while social studies is a relatively new
term.

Conclusion:

We can conclude therefore that even though social studies make use of social science
disciplines, it has different orientation. The study of social studies should remain an
integral part of the educational system at all levels. We conclude that if the social
studies and social sciences did not permeate and cooperate with each other in the long
run human beings and society would fail to develop smoothly.

1.6 Justification for Using the Term Teaching/Pedagogy of Social Sciences in

Place of Teaching/Pedagogy of Social Studies

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Teaching as inquiry

Effective social studies teachers inquire into the teaching-learning relationship; they
think about how they are teaching and whether it is working. This can be moment by
moment as teaching takes place, day to day, or over a longer term as occurs when
using a teaching as inquiry approach.

Focusing inquiry

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 How will I know the learner?

Consider the culture of your students, and their interests, goals and aspirations in order
to plan appropriate activities that connect to relevant contexts. Identify students with
specific learning needs and ask them what helps them to learn.

How will I assess prior knowledge?

Consider accessing prior knowledge through interviews, conversations with learners,

pre- and post-tests, questionnaires or surveys. Pre-testing might be undertaken using
visuals like photographs as a stimulus to get students to write what they know about a
topic/event. Post tests might repeat the pre-test process to track development or seek
in-depth information revealing knowledge, skills, and understanding of the key learning
dispositions or competencies. Consider also what format to use in order to assess prior
knowledge and the framing of the questions. There are more examples in the Effective
Pedagogy in Social Sciences: Tikanga ā Iwi: BES (pp. 237-242).

What knowledge is important?

Consider what factual knowledge and conceptual understandings are important. For
example, when investigating 'Boy racers: car crushing' (see level 7 achievement
objectives), determine what relevant laws the students are aware of, their personal
concept of the relevant ‘rights’, and the students' own value positions. This could be
done giving sentence starters for the students to complete.

Identifying student prior knowledge can alert teachers to misunderstandings that they
can plan to address, and student experience on which to build engagement with new
learning.
Teaching inquiry

What evidence-based strategies are most likely to help my students learn? This involves
asking questions about how well current strategies are working and whether others
might be more successful.

Consider student engagement and achievement and in particular the engagement of

boys, Māori, and Pasifika. Ask how effective your current strategies are, and which
learning outcomes these strategies address.

Choose the strategy for the specific learning outcome such as:

 graphic organisers
 co-operative strategies
 writing and presenting
 using visual and oral presentation

and encourage the use of digital media.

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 Choose topics of immediate relevance to the cultures and sub-cultures of your learners,
for example, the riches and tensions of diversity in New Zealand, belief systems,
changing families, and lifestyle choices. Consider current issues such as binge drinking,
the car cults, social networking, cyber bullying, and the impact of musical cultures like
hip hop and reggae.

Consider when and how to formatively assess and give feedback and feed forward  .

Resources on effective teaching


o Quality Teaching for Diverse Students in Schooling BES
o Success for Boys
 Ka Hikitia
 Pasifika Education Plan
TOP

Learning inquiry

Ask yourself:

 What happened as a result of the teaching?

 Were the students engaged and interested?
 Did they understand the essential learning intention to the required depth?
 Do the students want to know more?

For example, when teaching a unit on 'changes in the New Zealand family', assess if
students recognise different family structures and understand the consequences of
changing family structures in the past, and the impact for the future development of
New Zealand society. This could be group or peer-based feedback by mini-whiteboards,
poster chart, or oral report on particular family structures.

What data could be collected?

Check progress with a task to check the level of student engagement when learning is
taking place in class. Use a feedback/feed-forward sheet to establish ‘what I know that
I know / what I still need to know’.

Students might write a single paragraph showing their depth of understanding on one
key concept or idea. For example, in a level 7 study of the effects of gender perceptions
on employment, students might ‘explain one significant long term, and one short term
consequence of delayed child bearing due to longer education pathways and career
establishment’. The teacher can quickly identify the depth of understanding and offer
feed-forward advice.

If learning is based around a social inquiry, consider collecting evidence for each stage
of the inquiry. A short written feedback / feed-forward sheet might help students.

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 Tracking student progress

The following is an example for tracking student progress in level 7 research, which can
form the basis of a ‘learning conversation’ and indicate directions needed for success.

Tracking student progress (PDF, 116 KB)

Using self-assessment the teacher can plan the next steps, perhaps to re-teach to a
particular group, run mini-workshops for those needing skills support, or have an
individual conference with a student.

What do I need to change?

Ask your students if they enjoyed the learning experience and if/how your teaching
strategies are working for them. Is the desired learning occurring for all students?

Consider teacher behaviour such as:

 positioning
 language used
 volume, tone
 body language
 classroom management
 questioning techniques
 strategies you use to engage your learners.

Are they being given opportunities to take ownership of their learning?

Activity 1

1. Give any two definitions of Social Studies which you are convinced will unacceptable
to the contemporary practitioners of the subject.
2. What is Social Studies from your point of view as a teacher in training?

Activity 2
1. Why do we need to study social studies
2. Disscuss your answer with your classmate. Find out what you had similar
and different. Be prepared to share with the class.

Activity 3
Direction: Use the guide question in making you position paper.
1. What is the importance of knowing the foundation of social studies?
2. How are you going to integrate and apply the learning in social studies in you life?

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Follow the outline:
I. Introduction
II. Content / Body
III. Conclusion

References
Mangal, S. K. & Mangal, U. (2018). Pedagogy of social sciences. 2nd Edition. PHI
Learning Private Limited, Delhi

Gordon, S. (1991). The history and philosophy of social science. Routledge.

http://www.bdu.edu.et/fss/sites/bdu.edu.et.fss/files/The%20History%20and
%20Philosophy%20of%20Social%20Scienceee.pdf

Backhouse, R. & Fontaine, P. (2010). The history of the social sciences since 1945.
Cambridge University Press
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/40587/8/10_chapter1.pdf

Bautista, M. B., (2001). Philippine review of economics.Vol.38, No. 1. The Social

Sciences in the Philippines: Reflections on Trends and Developments.
http://lynchlibrary.pssc.org.ph:8081/bitstream/handle/0/863/The_Social_Sciences_in_th
e_Philippines_Reflections_on_Trends%20_and_Developments.pdf?sequence=1

https://nou.edu.ng/sites/default/files/2017-03/PED%20130%20FINAL.PDF

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