MED 503 Methods of Teaching Elementary Social Studies

Course Description

This methods course is designed for elementary educators who instruct children in citizenship education. The course emphasizes the instructional methods and strategies that help students understand key social studies concepts through active learning.

Topics and Objectives

History of the Social Studies Curriculum

· Examine the origins and evolution of social studies in the school curriculum.

Teaching Values and Moral Development

· Identify values and moral development consistent with good citizenship.

· Recognize strategies that can be used to teach values and develop moral behavior consistent with good citizenship.

Curriculum Planning

· Identify sources of curriculum content.

· Examine various approaches to curriculum planning.

Designing Lesson Plans

· Analyze models of lesson plan design.

· Identify ways to create effective goals, objectives, and learning activities.

Disciplines in the Social Studies Curriculum

· Identify the various disciplines in social studies curriculum.

Current Issues in Social Studies

· Identify strategies for teaching about current issues in social studies.

· Examine relevant topics of concern such as multicultural education, gender equity, law and citizenship, global affairs, and current controversial issues.

Using Social Studies to Develop Critical Thinking and Creativity Skills

· Identify how social studies curriculum can be used to develop critical thinking skills.

· Identify activities in social studies curriculum that can be used to develop creativity in students.

Communication and Language Skills in Social Studies

· Examine how communication and language skills are developed through social studies curriculum.

Assessment

· Identify types of evaluation commonly used to document student learning.

· Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different types of measurement.

· Examine various assessment tools.

Test Design and Construction

· Identify the general guidelines for designing and constructing valid and reliable tests of student learning.

· Analyze different types of test items and the advantages and disadvantages of each.