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Required Text: Martorella, P.H. (2001). Teaching Social Studies in Middle and Secondary Schools.

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to present various approaches to social studies instruction at the middle/secondary level. More specifically, the course is designed to assist students to:

1) Examine the broad instructional methods and techniques of teaching social studies.

2) Acquire skills and techniques necessary to become an effective teacher.

Practical application of these skills includes an emphasis on instructional planning, presentation skills, questioning skills, checking for understanding, and creative assessment processes. Most importantly, students will develop a "tool box" of instructional methods that can be used in a wide variety of teaching situations.

Primary Course Goals:

This course is designed to give students the background and skills necessary to teach successfully in the social studies classroom. This includes:

1. Understanding methods of promoting active involvement, positive student rapport, and student interest in subjects being taught.

2. Examining a variety of instructional methods and materials.

3. Writing and delivering a lesson/unit plan in which the objective, teaching strategies, materials and assessment plan are coordinated.

4. Understanding the importance of and being able to develop critical thinking skills/questioning skills.

Objectives:

Given instruction and practice, each student will:

1. Acquire basic concepts necessary for understanding the teaching process.

2. Develop a teaching style that one is comfortable with.

3. Choose and implement instructional strategies.

4. Develop and deliver a micro lesson plan.

5. Apply teaching skills in a videotaped micro teaching situation.

6. Videotape and critique a lesson presented by another student.

7. Develop techniques for evaluation of performance and achievement.

8. Finish with a toolbox of essential items for classroom teaching.

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