COURSE TITLE: Learning in the Disciplines: Social Studies
COURSE PREFIX AND NUMBER: MGED 3240
HOURS: 3
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will
examine the structure of the social science disciplines and the methods
of inquiry embedded within the social science disciplines and those which
are integrative across the middle school curriculum. These skills have
direct implications for instruction in the specific disciplines and for
making connections across traditional content areas. Students will examine
and develop expertise in these inquiry methods and develop strategies to
effectively teach them. The various discipline standards will also be examined.
The focus is on the skills and strategies which foster learning within
and across the social sciences and history.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK PRINCIPLES ADDRESSED:
1. Understand the central concepts, tools
of inquiry, and structures of the discipline and be able to create learning
experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for learners.
2. Understand how students learn and develop and be able to provide developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social, and personal development.
3. Understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and be able to create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learner.
4. Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage the learner's development of critical and creative thinking, problem solving and performance skills.
6. Use knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal,
and information technology techniques to foster
active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive
interaction in the classroom.
7. Plan instruction based on knowledge of subject matter, the learners, the community, and curriculum goals.
8. Understand and use authentic assessment to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of the learner.
9. Be a reflective practitioner who continually
evaluates the effects of hi/her choices and actions on others (students,
parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and actively
seek the opportunity to grow professionally.
SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will examine the characteristics
unique to the discipline including concepts, skills, strategies and approaches
to developing understanding in the field.
2. Students will become familiar with the standards, expectations and curriculum for Middle Grades in the discipline.
3. Students will analyze and develop performance skills which are inherent in the disciplines and which transcend traditional content boundaries.
4. Students will develop instructional strategies which foster learning and understanding within and across the disciplines.
5. Students will develop approaches to instruction
which exhibit the contributions of the discipline to an interdisciplinary
approach to instruction.
ISTE COMPETENCIES:
6. Ability to integrate telecommunication to send and receive e-mail and to access network resources through the internet.
7. Ability to integrate telecommunication including electronic communication and information access into a classroom curriculum assignment.
8. Ability to use multimedia authoring tools
to create instructional lessons.
COURSE OUTLINE:
I. The Disciplines
a. similarities and distinctions
b. national, state, local
curricula and standards
II. Performance Skills across disciplines
a. inquiry skills
b. critical thinking
skills
c. problem solving skills
d. process skills
III. Strategic Learning Across Disciplines
a. exemplars: analogy,
metaphor, simulations, visuals
b. conceptualization:
concept maps, webbing, models, demonstrations, writing, relationships
c. application and understanding
d. accessing information/resources
ASSESSMENT:
1. Field experience requirements
2. Internet assignments
3. Analyze national social studies standards for middle grades and QCCs for middle grades social studies to generate topics for planning interdisciplinary units.
4. Portfolio of selected completed course requirements.
5. Class participation and attendance
Assignments will be graded on a four point
scale; rubrics for each written assignment will be provided in advance
of the assignment's due date. All assignments will be evaluated on the
following criteria: accuracy, completeness, clarity, depth of analysis
and insight, coherence, well reasoned or argued; clarity of expression,
consistent correct usage of standard English.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Geography Education Standards Project. (1994).
Geography for Life: National Geography Standards. Washington, D.C.:
National Geographic Society.
Martorella, Peter H. (1996). Teaching
Social Studies in Middle and Secondary Schools.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, Inc.
National Council for Social Studies. (1994).
Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for social studies.
Washington, D.C.
INTERNET SITES:
http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/
http://www.capecod.net/schrockguide/
http://www.classroom.net/classroom/lesson.htm
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/
http://www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/index.html
http://www.artsednet.getty.edu/ArtsEdNet/Resources/lps.html#mid