Pedagogical Analysis of Teaching Social Studies: An Empirical Literature Review

Abstract

The primary objective of this paper is to do a critical literature review on the pedagogical analysis of teaching Social Studies. This paper reviewed aspects relating to the scope of Social Studies, factors affecting the teaching and learning of Social Studies concepts, the concept of teaching, motivation to teaching and learning, teaching methodologies and the pedagogical methods and strategies used in teaching Social Studies. Methodologically, students, teachers, policy makers and stakeholders in education were the focus of this study. The paper made used of secondary sources of information with the help of documents, published papers, archives, reports and books related to the subject under study. The review revealed that Social Studies subject is an integrated field of knowledge that cuts across disciplines. It was also revealed that the scope of Social Studies is unlimited, it also came to light that Social Studies is one of the least-liked subjects by students. Furthermore, the paper revealed that, the Ghana Education Service and other Colleges of higher education have issues with well-trained and competent teachers to handle the Social Studies subject and lastly the review revealed that some major factors that affect the teaching and learning of Social Studies are; the lack of meaning of concepts, lack of training in process skills, avoidance of controversial issues and limited shallow of content by some Social Studies teachers in the field of study. It is therefore recommended that the Government through the Ghana Education Service should recruit most-qualified and competent teachers to teach Social Studies in Senior High Schools and beyond. In addition, teachers who are well versed in teaching controversial issues must be engaged. The researcher also recommends that there is the need for a tripartite collaboration among the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and other Non-governmental educational organizations to provide the needed teaching and learning materials for the teaching and learning of Social Studies. It is recommended that teachers should also employ different methodologies in teaching the subject. Lastly, the researcher recommends that the various pedagogical methods should be well combined and used to teach in order to help improve the attitude of students towards the learning of Social Studies in Senior High Schools and beyond.