METHODS OF TEACHING SOCIAL SCIENCE

1 LECTURE METHOD is the oldest procedure of teaching. It is widely used in schools and colleges. It is a good method its cover a wide topic at heights level of college or secondary schools and higher secondary classes but its success depends on the personality and ability of students.

Why  And When This Method Should Be Used?
To motivate students.
To give an overview of a large topic.
To add supplement the students reading.
To make an importance matters understanding.
To provide background of a topic or to introduce the topic
To help the students to use their time wisely
To explain the major concepts of a lesson
To develop reasoning skill of students
To have a classroom discussion

Merits Of The Method:

It is economical and save time           Effective in giving factual information

It Stimulate and motivate students   It provide flexibility

Helps to clarify and explain ideas     Give opportunity to maintain personal contact with students

It helps the teacher to make his works simple      It establishes face to face contact.

It develops attention span.                Students develop listening and note taking skills.
Students can prepare the notes.        It is easy method for new teachers.

Demerits Of The Method:

It is a teacher centered method not very good for SS.

It is a monotonous tiring and sometimes it becomes a boring method.

It brings a lot of burden and reading to the teacher.
It is not an interactive method.         Some lectures may waste time.

Does note meet individual needs       It Encourage learning of “readymade” materials

DISCUSSION METHOD: 

Discussion is one of the most valuable methods of teaching social science. It is well known that “two heads are better than one” and by this method wonderful results can be achieved. The word discussion means exchanging views and debate. Here the discussion can be among the group of students as a whole group.

Purpose of Discussion:

Laying plans for new works             Sharing of information

Clarifying  ideas and concepts Making decisions concerning future action

Evaluating progress

Where And When Can You Use Discussion Method?

1 the teacher of S.S. can use this method when he is using a project method.

2 when he has to share information and ideas from a large group.

3 when one needs to solve a problem, or do thinking and analytical activity in the class.

4 when one obtain information and ideas from a large group of students.

5 when one needs to check or evaluate students’ progress.

Forms Of Discussion:

A debate is a programme in which two or more students holding contradictory opinions on a particular problem  present arguments.

A Symposium is  meeting or conference for discussion of a particular topic in which a collection of essays or papers were presented  by subject experts or  a number of contributors , especially one in which the participants form an audience and make presentations.

Brainstorming is a group or individual creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its members.

The Process Of Discussion:
The process can be different depending upon the type of discussion.
1 the ideas are initiated by the teacher than there is exchange of ideas opinions observations comments etc
2 this is a co-operative learning.

Steps in Discussion
1 Preparation:
To make discussion a success the teacher as well as the student must make a careful preparation. The teacher should do in depth reading of the topic. She should do critical reading, should understand the arguments well and know the gist of the lesson.

Conducting Discussion:
In this stage the teacher initiates the discussion. He controls process and keeps the students disciplined and keeps the discussion under control or on the right tract.

Purpose Of Discussion:

Laying plans for new work               Making decisions concerning future action

To share information and ideas        To clarify ideas

Inspiring interest                     Evaluating progress

Marits Of Discussion Method:
• It is based of differences.                • It emphasizes independent study.
• It develops reasoning.           • It develops study habits.
• It is activity oriented.            • It teaches how to study purposefully.
• It helps the teacher to find leadership quality among students.
• It helps in clarifying ideas, issues etc.
• It creates better understanding of the topic, issues, events, ideas or concepts.

Demarits Of Discussion Method
• It is time consuming method.         

• It needs some training and average teacher can not
• Why students do not benefit from this activity.
• Sometimes only a few students dominate.
• There can be some necessary argument and can lead to some major problems.

ROLE PLAY AND DRAMATIZATION METHOD:

 Role playing, socio drama or creative dramas are used to present a specific situation for study and discussion.  It is a way of bringing situation from real life into the classroom.In role play, students improvise the situation is fixed but they make up the exact as they go.

Role Plays Are Use To Teach:
to clarify social values.            to focus attention on a specific central ideas.
to extend vocabulary.                       to gain grater insight into the problems of others.
It develops social skills, communication skills and team spirit.
They provide excellent basis for discussion and evaluation.

Followup Activities After The Role Play
Role Play should be followed by discussion about the theme of the role play.
Students can be interviewed about their role.
The audience can say about each role. They can also do the role play by other group of Students.

PROJECT METHOD:

A project is a problematic act carried to completion in its natural settings. According to Kilpatrick, a project is a whole hearted, purposeful activity proceeding in a social environment preferably in its natural settings.

This method is based on the educational philosophy of John Dewy. This method is most widely propagated by pragmatists and is based on the principles of learning by doing or learning by living.

What Is A Project Method?

It is a progressive approach of teaching. It is a purposeful act it provides the learner with learning experiences.

Here the teacher acts like a guide assigns the projects to groups of students.’

Each group works on different topics or problems. They work together to prepare the project.
The students work together as a team, they learn by discussing, reading, and exchanging ideas. Then they take the help of a teacher wherever they difficulties or have questions.

The project method covers the content of many different subjects and the teacher tries to integrate the information to the main topic.

This method gives complete freedom and choice to students.

Principles of Project Method:

Principle of Purpose,     Principle of Activity,               Principle of experience

Principle of reality,                  Principle of freedom,     Principle of utility

Steps In Project Method:
Providing a situation ,  Proposing and Choosing,  Planning,  Executing, Evaluating,  Recording

Advantages Of Project Method:
It gives freedom and creativity.         Here the teacher and students both grow.
Students can link the subject to real life.    It motivates students.
It is related with real life          It trains for democratic way of life

It gives training in citizenship           Upholds dignity of labour

It promotes self discipline and self sufficiency

Disadvantages Of Project Method:
It is expensive method.            It is time consuming.
It needs lots of resources.                  Some projects cannot be done at school.
Lack of competent teachers    

SOURCE METHOD:

Source method is an activity oriented method. It is generally used in social studies subject also. Generally sources mean a person, books or document or picture or actual objects that can provide information for learning. It is learning directly from the actual sources for examples for social studies they can be- A contract with the bank – or studying the sample of stone collected from the moon or an object found from any ancient place can also be studied. One can also take students to museums to find the objects to study.

There are three types of sources in this method.

1 Material resource: Ideas, machines, weapons etc…..

2 Oral resources: Songs, folk stories, traditions, customs etc...

3 Written and printed resources: Records, reports, letters etc….

Steps Followed To Use Source Method:

1 Demonstration or presentation by the teacher.

2 Locate related reading material and assign reading to the study.

3 Problem solving by students; with group discussion among the students.

Advantages Of Sources Method:

It provides direct, first hand experience.

It develops a sense of reality

It creates motivating and interesting ambience in the class.

It develops skill of data collection, thinking skill and observation skill.

It makes the subject meaningful.

Limitations:

Most  of the original sources of Indian history are available in foreign languages

Original sources are very rare and are unavailable

Not suit for all stages and classes