Humanities

Methods

We employ teaching methods that provide opportunities for students to acquire knowledge, and to develop their problem-solving and decision-making abilities; that run parallel to world-wide progress; that are mindful of the individual’s experiences; and that support and develop active participation in life, correct decision-making, and problem-solving. With this approach we attempt to bring about a new understanding which is student-centric – and therefore centred on activity – which balances knowledge and ability from the point of view of the Humanities, which is mindful of students’ personal experiences and individual differences, and provides opportunities for them to interact with their environment.

Abilities it is intended should be gained, developed, and transferred to life through the learning process of the Humanities:

• The ability to think critically
• The ability to think creatively
• The ability to communicate
• The ability to research
• The ability to solve problems
• The ability to make decisions
• The ability to use information technologies
• The ability to be enterprising
• The ability to use Turkish correctly, fluently, and effectively
• The ability to observe
• The ability to perceive the environment
• The ability to perceive time and chronology
• The ability to perceive change and continuity
• The ability to be socially active
• The ability to empathise

All technological resources supplied by our school – which closely follows improvements in technology – use of the computer for recording information from various sources, moulding and re-using this information, presenting it in a computer environment, producing reports using text, graphics, colour and sound effects, developing the ability to reach information using telephone and television networks, technological tools such as electronic whiteboards, maps, plans, graphics, diagrams, and globes are used according to the purpose at hand.

A “near to far, simple to complex, concrete to abstract” approach is followed by the Humanities, and the child’s horizon of thought and vision is broadened by degrees.

In doing this, the following techniques are employed to include the student in the process of active learning and make learning more permanent:

• Explaining
• Showing
• Role-playing,
• Question and answer,
• Debate,
• Top-down understanding,
• Bottom-up understanding,
• Cooperative learning,
• Mind-mapping,
• Brainstorming,
• and memory association techniques such as:
  • Number-figure associations,
  • Photographic memory,
  • Local associations.

Care will be taken to link in any topical debates that relate to the subject-matter being covered. Especially in celebrating special days and weeks, or the anniversaries of Turkish victories and reforms, students will be shown articles and images from newspapers and magazines to arouse their interest. Also, students will be encouraged to draw links between the topics they are studying and any relevant environmental and social events. The fact that most students are at the stage of concrete understandings will be taken into account, and care will be taken to choose facts from their environment and from real life, to present in teaching.

Historical paintings, postcards, pictures and films are used in substantiating the subjects.

Also, in Humanities lessons, teaching and learning strategies put forth by various researchers and writers are employed:

• Learning and teaching through presentation
• Learning and teaching through discovery
• Learning and teaching through research and inquiry

In addition, learning through problem-solving is employed, and teachers are regarded not as imparters of information in the traditional sense, but as guides to help students acquire information themselves.

The perpetuation of values such as fairness, familial unity, independence, peace, scientific thoughts, hard work, solidarity, sensitivity, honesty, aesthetics, tolerance, hospitality, freedom, health, respect, love, responsibility, cleanliness, nationalism, and helpfulness are also important to the Humanities.