ASSIGNMENT - FEATURES OF A GOOD SOCIAL SCIENCE TEXT BOOK

ASSIGNMENT

   THEORETICAL BASE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION

TOPIC:FEATURES OF A GOOD SOCIAL SCIENCE TEXT BOOK

Submitted to                                                      Submitted by

Bindu B (Asst Prof)                                             Neenu S Murali

MTTC Nalanchira                                                                Social Science

                                                                                                 Reg. No: 13302013

                                                                                                 MTTC Nalanchira

INTRODUCTION

Social science is a subject of study at the secondary school level.Which offers to a systematic study of man in relation to his society.A country is great not by its number,but by the character of its people.In a democratic country like India every citizen has to play a pivotal role in the different of the nation.

                              The text book, in fact ,constitutes an inspiring part of any system of education today.Even in the most developed  countries where a variety of teaching learning tools and techniques are available in the class rooms.Text book continue to enjoy their rightful place.As far as Social Science is concerned the text book can always be a useful adjunct to the efforts of the teacher and reassurance to the pupil.  

Characteristics of a good social science text-book

1 . The author: A good text-book is judged, at face, by the author, his qualification and experience.

2. Mechanical features of the text-book:

(a) The print and paper used and the binding of the text-book should be attractive. It should be  

     hard and durable.

(b) The printing should be clear, legible and appropriately spaced.

(c) The book should be well-illustrated with diagrams, sketches and pictures.

(d) The size of the print, the language and experiments discussed should suit the age of the child

     and standard of the child.

3. The subject matter-its nature and organisation:

(a) The subject-matter should be developed as far as possible in psychological sequence. Care

     must be taken of the mental growth and interest of pupils.

(b) There should be consistency of the subject-matter and the text-book should satisfy the

     objectives of science teaching.

(c) Each chapter should begin with a brief introduction and end with a summary.

(d) Subject-matter should lead to the inculcation of scientific attitudes, disciplinary and cultural

     values.

(e) Each chapter should contain assignments at the end.

(f) During treatment of subject-matter, numerical examples should find place where necessary.

(g) Headings and sub-headings are given in bold letters.

(h) Each text-book should contain detailed Table of Contents and an index.

(i) The language of the book should be simple, clear, lucid, scientific and precise. The English

    equivalents of the terms should be always given in brackets.

(J) The text-book should give suggestions for improving scientific apparatus.

k) Examples in the text-book should be given from local environment and from life experience.

Social Science

No field of study is more important to human beings than the social sciences. To understand society is to learn not only the conditions that limit our lives but also the opportunities open to us for improving the human condition. Increasing our knowledge of human society is as important as learning more about mathematics, physics, chemistry, or engineering, for unless we can develop societies in which human beings can live happy, meaningful, and satisfying lives, we cannot reap the benefits from learning how to make better

automobiles and skyscrapers, traveling in space, or constructing faster computers. Albert Einstein summed it up: “Politics is more difficult than physics and the world is more likely to die from bad politics than from bad physics.”

Used textbook market

Once a textbook is purchased from a retailer for the first time, there are several ways a student can sell his/her textbooks back at the end of the semester. Students can sell to 1) the college/university bookstore; 2) fellow students; or 3) a number of online Web sites or student swap service.

What is a text book?

A text book is a specially written book which contains selective and systematic knowledge regarding the   curriculum material prescribed.Every care is taken to maintain coherence and sequence in the presentation of information and learning activities.That is why a text book said to be “the teacher in print”. As far as Social Science is concerned,the text-book is an aid which is considered indispensable in all methods adopted for its instruction.In the USA,textbook are used in Social Science from the earliest classes,but in European schools,Social Science text book are rarely in use in primary classes.

Text books indispensable in Social Science

·         As a guide to the pupil

·         As an aid to the teacher

·         To give the minimum essential knowledge in a single source

·         As a tool for self-learning

·         To provide material in a logical and comprehensive manner.

·         To ensure uniformity to the expected standard

·         To provide a base from which both the teacher and the pupils may start and continue to work

·         To provide both confirmation and sustenance

·         To rectify the limitations of the class room situation in most of the Indian schools

1.                A large number of students in each class,creating congestion.

2.                Lengthy courses and teacher’s worries about finishing the prescribed syllabus within the specified period.

3.                Extremely divergent opinions regarding historical,political and social events.

4.                Non-availability of other teaching aids and devises which are indispensable for effective instruction.

·         To ensure intellectual rapport and likeness of people:Good social science text-books can co-ordinate activities and bring about rapport and mutual agreement among people.

The Function of the social science text-book

1.       In the primary classes,it can be relied upon for essential information,so organized as to show order and continuity and so presented as to be lucid,interesting and attractive.

2.       In the secondary classes,it should contain well-arranged comprehensive knowledge required to enable them prepare for their successful adult life.The text-book should expand its scope and size to meet the changing conception of what is considered educationally sound and desirable.

Criteria for a good social science text-book

1.       It should help in achieving the purpose of learning social science

2.       It should be child –centered

3.       It should contain fluent narration

4.       It should have a clear and self explanatory arrangement

5.       It should open up various avenues of thought and study

6.       The language of the text book should be suitable for the “reading age” of the pupils

7.       It should be well-illustrated

8.       It should be simple,interesting and attractive enough to take the form of a self study material.

9.       It should be free from indoctrination

10.   It should provide proper and adequate exercises and suggestions for activities at the end of each chapter.

·         Pupils are helped in recapitulating and revising the important information.

·         Pupil engage in reinforced practice which would help in the better understanding of the various concepts and generalizations.

·         Pupils are encouraged to involve in activities such as discussion and debates.Preparation of time lines and maps,etc.which develop skills related to the contents.

·         Pupils are encouraged to participate in activities which foster the desired habits,attitude and behavior patterns.

·         Gifted children of the class get suggestions for involving in challenging assignments

·         Teacher is helped in evaluating the gains of the children in terms of their acquisition of desired understandings,attitudes and skills.

11.   It must be up-to-date

12.   It should help in developing international understanding

13.   It should contain references for further study and references for collateral reading

14.   It should also cater to the needs of backward pupils

15.   It should promote group effort

16.   It should contain a subject index at the end

When to use the text-book?

There are certain other points which need to be considered in the proper use of the text-book.

Cautions in the use of the text-book 

1.       Text-book should be considered as only subsidiary and supplementary ,and not the primary and fundamental.

2.       Reading the text-book aloud in the class is not desirable.

3.       The teacher should not be a mere uncritical mouthpiece for what is contained in the text-book.

CONCLUSION

                   In the features of a social science text book I get a conclusion that more profit the good text book studies.Social science text-books are rarely in use in primary classes.In India schools,text books are in use from the lowest to the highest classes and all our lessons are based mostly on text books.A text book is a specially written book which contains selective and systematic knowledge regarding the curriculum material prescribed.”A text book differs from an ordinary book mainly on the basis that it is basically student friendly and also reflects the anticipated instructional goals teaching learning techniques etc…They arrived at the conclusion that the text book coned not be dropped out of the system of education.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Social Science Education - Methodology of teaching and pedagogic analysis

Dr.K Sivarajan

Dr.T V Thulasidharan

Dr.N K Vijayan