Identify a Problem, Which You Have Faced, While Teaching Social Sciences at Secondary Level. Describe How You Can Solve the Problem Through Action Research
Identified Problem
While teaching Social Sciences at the secondary level, one recurring problem I encountered was students’ lack of interest and participation during history lessons. Many students found the subject boring and difficult to relate to, resulting in low engagement and poor academic performance.
Nature of the Problem
- Students perceived history as a subject requiring memorization of dates and events.
- They struggled to see its relevance in their daily lives.
- Traditional lecture-based methods failed to capture their attention.
Action Research to Solve the Problem
1. Planning Phase
- Objective: To improve student engagement and understanding in history lessons.
- Strategy: Introduce innovative teaching methods such as storytelling, role-play, and use of audio-visual content.
2. Action Phase
- Selected a historical topic (e.g., The Revolt of 1857).
- Prepared a storytelling session using visuals and dramatization.
- Divided the class into groups and assigned them characters for a role-play.
- Used documentaries and short videos to provide real context.
3. Observation Phase
- Monitored student interest, participation, and involvement during the sessions.
- Used observation checklists and peer feedback to record changes in behavior and interest.
4. Reflection and Evaluation
- Conducted a short quiz and group discussion after the activity-based lesson.
- Compared the academic performance and engagement levels with those from traditional methods.
- Collected student feedback on the new teaching approach.
Findings
- Students demonstrated increased interest and enthusiasm during history lessons.
- There was a noticeable improvement in concept clarity and retention.
- They could better connect historical events with current social and political scenarios.
Conclusion
Action research proved to be a valuable method in addressing the problem of low engagement in history teaching. By incorporating interactive and student-centered strategies, teachers can make Social Sciences more interesting, meaningful, and impactful for secondary students.