Course Description
This course focuses on the use of social science theories, perspectives, and methodologies to investigate and explain shifts in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour and their impact on society. Students will critically analyse how and why cultural, social, and behavioural patterns change over time. They will explore the ideas of social theorists and use those ideas to analyse causes of and responses to challenges such as technological change, deviance, and global inequalities. Students will explore ways in which social science research methods can be used to study social change.
Prerequisite
Any university or university/college preparation course in social sciences and humanities, English, or Canadian and world studies
Sample Activity
Teachers
Ms O’Rourke (Ridley College) and Mr Black (Trinity College School)
Course Delivery
This course is run through Blackboard. Content includes embedded readings or videos, links to external resources, discussion boards, blog posts and VoiceThread prompts. Weekly announcements highlight the instructions and content to complete. Students use the Pronto application to have direct communication with the teacher and other students.
Synchronous sessions usually take place every two to three weeks and offer time for whole class discussions, partnered collaboration, and one-on-one teacher support. Recordings of these sessions are also accessible should a student be unable to attend a session. One-on-one check-ins also occur every three to four weeks or on an as needed basis.
Assessment and Evaluation
There is a mix of various assessment tools used in this course, including quizzes, VoiceThreads, discussions, blogs postings, peer feedback, reflections, tests, projects, essays, and presentations.
For the culminating project students plan and create a campaign for social change that can be implemented into their local, school or social media communities. Students will devise an action plan, create and roll out their campaign, then reflect on its creation process and effectiveness in creating social change.