MGBSA301 Social studies 2, module 1 - Specialization in social science 1

Contents and structure

Social studies in teacher education prepares students for the teaching profession in social studies. Social studies in primary and secondary teacher education offers a balanced distribution of geography, history, and civics. This module is aimed at primary education, with particular emphasis on further developing students' basic skills and competencies. This module will be taught in English with a minimum of 3 exchange students.

The module will facilitate specialization in particular geographical areas, historical epochs, and social processes, and aims at an expanded understanding of interrelations between theoretical perspectives and learning processes in school. The module includes local and global perspectives, and addresses a variety of themes, such as climate, environment and resource management, democracy and human rights, indigenous peoples, and the relationship between identity, culture, and socialization. 

The module addresses scientific thinking and source criticism, and offers a foundation for assessing and interpreting different kinds of data that can be used in research and professional development.  The course material will be offered in English.

Learning Outcome

After finishing this module, the student will have fulfilled the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has acquired extensive knowledge about the platform of values and mandate of the school, and the position school has in society
• has acquired extensive knowledge about central preconditions for, and issues regarding, state formation, human rights, citizenship, democracy, and processes of democratization
• has acquired extensive knowledge about indigenous populations, and familiarity with indigenous issues from an international perspective
• has acquired extensive knowledge about select examples of the interaction between resource allocation, demographics, globalization, and sustainable development
• has acquired insight into social and cultural factors that affect gender identity, sexuality, and cohabitation

Skills

The candidate

• can work with values and attitudes in social studies to promote critical reflection and train the ability of students to translate knowledge into action
• can find, assess, and interpret different kinds of data, to be used in research and professional development and to develop students' critical competence and creativity
• can plan, lead, and assess learning activities in primary education, with a particular emphasis on developing basic skills, and on the formative assessment of students based on their different needs
• can use and assess different methods that stimulate students' awareness of time, space, and social processes
• can accommodate democratic practices, the development of citizenship skills, cooperation, and conflict resolution in school
• can reflect on teaching practice and planning, managing learning activities, and assessment of these as a foundation for formative assessment

General competence

The candidate

• can accommodate students to reflect on social scientific questions and stimulate critical thinking and creativity
• can accommodate students to gain an overview of historical periods and development patterns, and to reflect on how history and culture is constructed
• can contribute to processes of change and innovation in school, and the involvement of local communities in learning processes.

Recommended previous knowledge

MGBSA201 or other equivalent introductory courses in social studies

Teaching methods

Lectures, group work, individual work, excursions.

Compulsory learning activities

Submission of a mandatory assignment. Guidelines for the assignment will be handed out in the beginning of the semester.

Assessment

Written exam, 6 hours.

Graded on a scale from A - F, where F is failed

Examination support material

None

More about examination support material