Abstract:
This study was carried out in two Senior High Schools in the Krachi-East District in
the Volta Region of Ghana to investigate the teaching of Social Studies concepts.
Concepts allow individuals to classify objects and ideas and provide the basis for the
networking of ideas for thinking, especially, higher level thinking in any subject. The
study was structured basically within the framework of mixed method approach. The
instruments used in the collection of data were an interview guide, questionnaire and
an observation guide. The participants of the study were six Social Studies teachers
who were purposely sampled and thirty students who were sampled based on
stratification. The study brought to light that: Discussion technique dominated the
teaching in Social Studies, Fieldtrip and Pre-reading Activity for Concept
Enhancement (PACE) were virtually absent in the teaching of Social Studies. The
lecture technique is still heavily relied upon by teachers in the teaching of Social
Studies, electronic media were not used in the teaching and learning of Social Studies
concepts, newspapers, magazines and journals were not available. Both teachers and
students had positive attitudes towards the teaching and learning of Social Studies
concepts. Based on the findings, certain recommendations were made. These include
the provision of avenues for in-service training for Social Studies teachers to upgrade
their skills and competencies in both content and pedagogy, the use of technology in
teaching Social Studies and the provision of teaching and learning resources to aid
teaching and learning.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Social Studies Education, Faculty of Social
Sciences Education, Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies,
University of Education, Winneba in Partial Fulfillment of the
requirements for the Award of The Master of Philosophy (Social Studies)
Degree.
AUGUST, 2016