Social Studies

Social Studies

Introduction

Learning is basic part of life. Everyone strives hard to acquire education as far as it is possible for him. With the passage of time, the importance of education and learning has been increasing at a rapid rate. The tasks that were performable by a common man now demand highly educated and skilled persons.

Like all the other branches of education, social studies is also an important subject. Perhaps, it is very important as it deals with the studies of the society, the society in which we live, interact with other people and perform everyday tasks. Its importance is therefore much highlighted in this context (Koralek, 2005).

With the passage of time, learning techniques have experienced a drastic change. Previously, the methods that were used for learning have been changed to quite an extent. Moreover, with the rise in the use and application of technology, modern techniques such as integrated learning were also devised. Previously, textbooks and the teachers were the prime source of education of social studies, but now internet is playing a major role in this regard. Now a student can have online access to a number of libraries and online databases regarding social studies and other subjects (Ross, 2005). Also the demands and conditions of learning have also been changed, and therefore a need for new techniques and learning method was felt.

Discussion

In view of above, a number of techniques regarding learning of social studies have been devised. These include integrated, textbook, commercially purchased and teacher-prepared social studies learning. Let us have a comparison of pros and cons of all these techniques in a bit detail so as to understand them.

Integrated social studies learning

Textbook social studies learning

Commercially purchased social studies learning

Teacher-prepared social studies learning

Definition

Integrated social studies learning is the method in which the curriculum of social studies is based on a number of integrated features. It aims at combining different approaches so as to make the student able to learn the subject in depth with convenience.

Textbook social studies learning in the method in which use of textbooks related to social studies is deployed so as to give the student clear idea and in depth knowledge of social studies. This method encourages the students to learn directly from the textbook that are published after designing of the curriculum of social studies (Lina & Wood, 2010).

It is the type of social studies learning in which use of course material and curriculum that is commercially purchased is made. It aims at providing students of social studies learning material that has been commercially acquired.

Teacher prepared social studies learning is the learning method in which the role of the teacher is of prime importance. This method focuses on compilation of curriculum and teaching material regarding social studies by the teacher so as to make the students learn from the compiled curriculum.

Advantages

The basic advantages of integrated social studies learning are that it makes the learning of social studies easier and efficient by using multiple resources and ...