Teachers’ utilization of Community resources in Teaching Social Studies concepts at Senior High Schools in the Ho Municipality, Volta Region

Abstract

This study investigates the utilization of community resources by Social Studies teachers in assessing concepts within Senior High Schools in Ho Municipality, Volta Region, Ghana. The research objectives include examining teachers' knowledge base on community resources, analyzing integration practices, and assessing barriers faced in deploying community resources. The study was carried out in Ho Municipality, focusing on OLA Senior High School, Mawuli Senior High School, and Mawuko Girls Senior High School. Adopting an interpretivism paradigm and qualitative approach, the researcher explored the teachers' experiences in deploying community resources. The target population consisted of Social Studies teachers in Senior High Schools within the specified municipality. The study employed purposive sampling, selecting 12 participants based on data saturation, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of teachers' perspectives. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, revealing three key findings. First, teachers defined and identified community resources, emphasizing their relevance and suitability for teaching Social Studies. Second, the study highlighted various benefits, including curricular enrichment, cognitive development, and social-cultural engagement. Lastly, barriers were identified, including institutional policies, resource constraints, and resistance from students or parents. The study concluded by emphasizing on the alignment of teachers' practices with established theories such as constructivism and experiential learning. Recommendations include the development of clear guidelines by policymakers, ensuring adequate resources, and promoting awareness of the benefits of community resource deployment. Social Studies teachers are encouraged to be collaborative and respectful of community diversity, while future research should explore different contexts, utilize diverse research designs, and focus on various dimensions of community resource deployment in teaching Social Studies concepts.