482-808 Teaching Method in Studies of Society and Environment

Availability

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

A major study in one of the following, and one year of study in at least one other, or a sub-major in two of the following: History, Geography, Economics, Politics, Sociology, Anthropology, Modern Government, International Relations, Criminology.

Semester

Contact

Objectives

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the aims and objectives of teaching social studies and an appreciation of the place of social studies in the curriculum;
• demonstrate an understanding of how children learn;
• demonstrate an ability to clearly define a rationale and communicate to students the relevance of what is being taught;
• demonstrate a developing ability to motivate and enthuse students, to capture interest, to stimulate and challenge;
• demonstrate an awareness of the importance of teaching concepts in social studies, e. g. time, change, causation, evidence, interpretation, bias, etc.;
• demonstrate an ability to identify and teach a variety of skills and to be able to separate skills from content;
• demonstrate an ability to select appropriate content;
• demonstrate a knowledge of basic teaching strategies and ability to incorporate a variety of strategies in the classroom;
• demonstrate a developing ability to communicate effectively with students, i.e., use appropriate language, define and explain, use examples, make comparisons, listen;
• demonstrate effective questioning skills and a developing ability to lead a meaningful discussion in which most students participate;
• demonstrate an awareness of individual differences and a developing ability to cater for the needs of all students in a mixed ability classroom;
• demonstrate a developing ability to manage learning in the classroom;
• demonstrate a broad knowledge of the History-Social Education curriculum 7-10 taught in Victorian post-primary schools, an understanding of the VCE Social Education and Australian Studies Study Designs and the ability to develop courses which implement the objectives;
• demonstrate an awareness of the range of resources available to teachers of social studies and an ability to develop their own resources;
• demonstrate a knowledge of methods of assessment and reporting; and
• demonstrate a developing ability to effectively evaluate their own teaching.

Content

A study of the methods of teaching social education. Topics include: the objectives and dimensions of social education selection of appropriate content and resources, constructing units of work, effective teaching and learning strategies, individual differences, assessment and reporting, VCE and Australian Studies.

Assessment

Essays and assignments equivalent to 4000 words.