How to teach general studies
How to teach general studies
One of the great problems with general studies is the sheer breadth of the subject – the range of possibilities is endless.
In teaching the subject I have found that a topic that goes down well with one group of students fails to raise any interest with another group. Maybe it is just me sometimes having a good day, and sometimes not, but over the years I have come to the conclusion that what I need is a variety of topics from which I can pick and choose my lessons according to the students in front of me.
The aim, of course, is to broaden the students’ horizons and to try and encourage them to express argument and debate in some sort of organised and structured manner. I think, looking back, I’ve been trying to develop an interest in creativity, debate, logic, reason, argument… in fact all the individual elements that make us human!
The themes and subjects I’ve used in this work have been gathered together into 600 individual activities all related to contemporary syllabuses.
In each case the activity can be undertaken by students individually, or in pairs or small groups. Most activities involve the students undertaking a specific research programme and then drawing conclusions. For example, the section on Media Bias requires the students to purchase a specific national daily paper and draw conclusions from that as to its political bias in relation to various sections of the paper.
The book is copiable – it comes either as a photocopiable book or as a CD that can be loaded onto the school’s learning network for use by everyone.
I do hope you find it helpful.
600 Activities for A-Level General Studies by Tony Attwood
Order code T1621emn
ISBN: Cat No: 978 1 86083 668 8
Sample pages can be viewed at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/general/T1621.pdf
Prices
Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £49.95. plus £3.95 delivery
CD with school-wide rights: £49.95 plus £3.95 delivery
Both the Ring Binder and the CD £56.94 plus £3.95 delivery
Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the book…
By post to First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Way, Corby, NN17 4HH
By fax to 01536 399 012
By phone with a school order number on 01536 399 011
On line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=53&products_id=453