Photograph usage in teaching social studies according to the teachers' views

Social studies is an inter-disciplinary field that encompasses several scientific branches such as history, geography and citizenship knowledge. Through social studies education, individual could learn about history of societies, geographical events that occur around the individual and rules of the social life. Since the age interval where the individual studies social studies is during concrete operational stage or during the transition into abstract operational stage, the teacher should avail visual materials extensively to accomplish an active teaching. One of the visual materials used in social studies instruction is the photograph. Photograph could be defined as a visual material that reflects the reality exactly on paper. Thus, photographs have an active role in attracting students' attention to the subjects instructed in classes, materializing the subjects and increasing the sustainability of learning. The objective of the present study is to determine the views of the social studies teachers on the use of photographic material in social studies teaching. Thus, to identify the views of the teachers, unique interview forms were designed in accordance to related literature and field specialist opinion. The sample of the study included 50 social studies teachers working in Malatya province in 2014 – 2015 academic year. The study was conducted with semi-structured interview method based on qualitative research approach. Collected data were analyzed with content analysis using established themes. Study findings demonstrated that use of photographic material in social studies courses had an active role in student achievement, participation in the class, permanence of learning and materializing the courses. On the other hand, it was determined that photography as a visual education toll should be suitable for the student's age, the objective of the subject and target behavior and to attract the attention of the student and should not cause mental confusion in the student. Finally, it was concluded that photographic material used in social studies classes improved the interests of students towards the class, and developed their comprehension and interpretation skills.