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Characteristics of a successful teacher of Social Sciences, Nikita…
Characteristics of a successful teacher of Social Sciences
Possessing a deep content knowledge of Geography and History
Content knowledge plays an important role when teaching Social Sciences.
The teacher must have an idea of what each of the different topics entail within the two subjects of History and Geography.
The teacher must develop her basic knowledge in History and Geography in order to facilitate learning and make connections between both the subjects.
The teacher must possess a good understanding of which content to work with in class.
The teacher must be able to go to class prepared and learn from her learners.
Be a lifelong learner; develop new lesson content annually whilst taking into consideration new knowledge.
The teacher must collaborate with other teachers in order to establish a sound content knowledge.
The teacher must have the ability to transfer knowledge to her learners.
The teacher must be well informed with spaces and programmes to access up to date content for lesson and teaching.
Possessing a strong conceptual understanding
Understand the relation between content and cognitive process.
Use first-order concepts to arrange the topics from History or Geography. For example, Slavery in History and population in Geography.
Develop learner's understanding.
Use second-order concepts to establish meaning of processes related to the content. For example, empathy in History and diversity in Geography.
The teacher must relate content and second-order concepts to learners existing knowledge and experiences.
Assist learners to empathize historically.
Explain concepts with reference to different topics.
Use various opportunities to re-examine and practice the same concepts.
Understanding how individuals interact in society
Have a good understanding of the character of humans and their interactions with other humans, or with the environment over a period of time and location.
Learners are diverse in their own ways.
If learners learn to interact with each other, with the teacher and with the space in the classroom, they will develop a foundation for understanding human interaction in History and Geography.
Relate interaction in classroom to matters of the world.
The teacher must learn to understand her learners first before carrying out the role expected of her in the classroom.
Ubuntu states :'I am because we are'.
Encourage learners and nurture learners in a safe, healthy and supportive surrounding, which in turn leads to their development of compassion, respect, ambiguity and bravery.
Encourage the responsibilities of a citizen in a country such as, individual responsibility, self-discipline, respect for others, honesty, respect for law, open-mindedness, critical thinking and patriotism.
Promote learners to function as a member of the community.
Know each learner, build a relationship with each learner and acknowledge each learner.
Possessing a broad general knowledge
A teacher who has a broad general knowledge can relate to the community, to society and current events.
Capture the interest of the class.
The teacher should structure the content in a simple way for learners to understand.
The teacher should be interested in acquiring knowledge of the context where she teaches.
Allows for the teacher to give learners more local examples when teaching. Therefore, making content easier and more relevant for learners to understand.
A teacher with a good general knowledge of a local area can assist learners with the application of content.
Provide learners with real-life opportunities, relate content to learners daily lives, allow learners to tackle and practice the responsibilities of a citizen.
Be up to date with contemporary and current problems.
Become familiar with the learner's sources of knowledge in order to relate the content of History or Geography to the problems they are well-informed about.
Depending on evidence
Make learners understand that they require evidence in order to substantiate their responses with regard to a problem.
Substantiate on quality of information brought to class.
Make resources available for learners to use.
Examples of resources include: newspapers, media, music, videos, artefacts, monuments and so forth.
The teacher should utilize resources that learners can relate to and challenge their perspectives.
Being open to different perspectives
Take learners responses into consideration.
Encourage the importance of diversity.
Each learner has a different understanding of a particular topic, therefore the teacher must be open to multiple perspectives.
Develop multicultural understandings.
Promote group work and expression of ideas.
Actively utilizing a variety of teaching methodologies
Dynamic teaching increases engagement with content.
Exposure to different teaching strategies can assist the teacher to select which strategy can work in class.
PCK
Knowledge of subject content (take into consideration the content and selecting the most appropriate teaching strategy when teaching).
Knowledge of learners and misconceptions
Knowledge of teaching strategy
Use ICT to enhance learning and teaching.
Use inquiry based learning (learner-centered approach, the teacher facilitates learners to construct their own knowledge) and the expository approach (direct instruction).
Knowledge of curriculum
Critique curriculum to teach beyond it.
Interpret curriculum documents to apply policies when teaching.
Use diverse teaching strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles in the classroom.
Learners research information pertaining to questions or topics.
Nikita Harichurn
Student number: ST10121587
TISS7411
Ice Task 1
Reference :
Drake, M., Dreyer, J., Maposa, M., Iyer, L., Mays, T., Segoe, B and Wasserman, J. 2017. Teaching Social Sciences: Intermediate and Senior Phases. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa.