ED 5981 - Discipline Specific Instructional Methods

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to build upon a scientific base to the practice of teaching social studies to children from fourth to eighth grade. The foundations of the social studies are examined with an emphasis on the standards and themes sanctioned by the National Council of Social Studies. Candidates learn research-based best practices that promote the two main goals of the social studies; social understanding and civic awareness. Instructional strategies and resources for the constructivist social studies classroom will be discussed and demonstrated. Attention will be given to current trends and the present status of elementary social studies. The course is standards-based, supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education standards for teacher preparation, as well as the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS), the Association for Middle Level Education, and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC). Teacher candidates participate in university classroom and field experiences that provide them with the knowledge, pedagogy, and dispositions needed to support social understanding and civic awareness to middle school students.