Changes in Social Studies (Curriculum)

Reflection:

It would have had good to get an opportunity to hear from Elaine when I was assigned to teach SS. The initial impression was that SS was a 'dumping' ground subject - something students had to get through. Hearing from her increased my interest in the subject. It is good to know we aren't trying to brainwash students to wave the flag at NDP. Interesting to see how the subject expands in schools in the next decade: the implied and unstated direction and outcome are students who care enough to act.

Meeting Notes:

Curriculum planning and development division

Ms Elaine Lim, deputy director, Humanities branch Pik_Ying_LIM@moe.gov.sg

Ms. Thian Wan Eng, curriculum planning officer, social studies secondary unit

Look for articles in ST (past two Mondays)

slides at edumall.sg

What is Social Studies

Outcome: Citizens in a culturally diverse democratic society in an interdependent world making informed and reasoned decisions for the public good

• understand issues affecting socio-economic development, governance and Singapore' future
• learn experiences of other countries to build and sustain a politically viable socially cohesive and economically vibrant Singapore
• develop citizens who empathize with others and will participate responsibly and sensibly into multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society
• have a deep sense of shared destiny and national identity
• develop thinking and processing skills essential for lifelong and independent learning
• develop into responsible citizens with global perspective

Version 1 (2000): six national education messages are mapped out as syllabus for social studies

Version 2 (2007): feedback of version 1 (students say version 1 was propagandistic, teachers giving "correct" answers, didactic teaching) Syllabus

Version 3 (20??)

Higher emphasis on skills and outcomes

• Outcome: Purpose of SS is to develop an informed, concerned (formulate opinions that matter)and participative citizenry(do something about what we think) at the local and global levels.
• Changing the way we teach and the way they learn: Need to involve students in the process of investigating, inquiring and thinking for themselves so that they acquire competence in critical thinking and decision making expected of them in the role as citizens.

Development of curriculum: looking at UN millennium goals and seeing what problems that impact the world also impact Singapore.What sort understanding, skills, process of inquiry do we want students to develop. What are the elements of inquiry/experience that students and teachers will go through? Teachers must facilitate the process of investigation, promote ownership in learning and action

Tie social action to inquiry performance task: students will automatically contribute in the process of learning

N(A) & N(T) Resources: ICT embedded materials

Resources

*Use and understand the syllabus document: maps out the philosophy

*Make sure there is a Social Studies Resource file (lesson plans and resources)

*A Guide to Teaching and Learning for upper secondary combined humanities

Social Studies 2.0: Don't get hung up on teaching the textbooks

Q&A

• Foreign students and teachers: how do we design SS in relation to these teachers and learners?

They will be here for a period of time and it is important for them to understand Singapore. We should not be teaching a syllabus that alienates - approach in the classroom must guard against this. Context of Version 3 will be broader, expanding beyond Singapore.

MOE recruited teachers for humanities due to a shortage. There are foreign teachers (many of whom have years of teaching experience) who have assimilated well into our society and enjoy teaching SS, bringing their experience into the classroom.

Nurturing Every Child