SIGN FRASER UNIVERSITY

Summer Session 2003

EDUC 414/474 - 4 ?

Kel McDowell

Designs for Learning: Social Studies

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Office:

(Elementary & Secondary) ?

Phone:

Tuesday/ Thursday 13:00-16:50

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email: kmcdowel1@sd46.hc.ca

EDB 8620 ?

D02.00

PREREQUISITE:

Educ 401/402

Crosslisted course.

Course Description:

This course is designed to help you better understand the subject area of social studies and to

learn about techniques and strategies for teaching and assessing the goals of this vast and complex subject. The

importance of building a coherent design or vision to guide your social studies program will be emphasized

throughout the course. The course is essentially divided into three sections: aJ foundations b/ ends and means,

and c/ implementation. Specific assignments will be used to assess students understanding of each of these

sections.

Course Format:

A number of different teaching approaches and/or formats will be incorporated into this course

including combinations of short lectures, discussions, group conferencing and activities. For some topics I am

hoping to invite guests to present specific information although this cannot be confirmed until later.

Specific objectives:

-

understand the rationales, organizing strands, and goals of social studies

- become familiar with the British Columbia IRP for social studies

- become aware of strategies for promoting and assessing the major goals of social studies

- be able to develop a yearly course plan including units and lessons

-

become familiar with assessment strategies that will enhance student learning in all areas

- have a more developed and thoughtful perspective and justification for all of the above objective

Assignments & Evaluations:

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Class Participation & Mini-assignments:

15%

(Self & Instructor Evaluated)

- Short Paper: 15% (Instructor Evaluated)

- Journal & Final Reflections Paper: 20% (Instructor Evaluated)

- Group Project - Yearly Course, Unit & Lesson Planning: 50% (Self, Peer, Instructor Evaluated)

A detailed outline of each of these assignments will be distributed and explained during the first class.

Participation & Mini-Assignment Policy:

Attendance for this course is most important as classes are lengthy and a

significant amount of material will be covered each week. In order to learn the material some lessons will involve

participating in a number of in-class mini-assignments to facilitate understanding of teaching methods and

strategies. Furthermore, a significant amount of class time will be used for work on the large group project, and

in fairness to your group members it will be pertinent that you be in attendance. For each class and/or

mini-assignment missed without an appropriate reason, marks will be deducted from your total participation mark

and will therefore affect your final grade.

Required Readings:

Case, R., & Clark, P. (1999). The Canadian Antholog

y

of Social Studies: Issues and Strategies for Teachers.

Pacific Educational Press (Vancouver).

Ministry of Education, Skills and Training. (1998). Social Studies 8 -10:

OR

Social Studies K - 7: Integrated

Resource Package.

A scheduled list of readings for each class will be circulated during the first class.